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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports

Teresa Heinz Kerry Apologizes To First Lady; Should Congressmen Receive Flu Vaccine?; Bill Clinton To Resume Campaigning For Kerry

Aired October 20, 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.


WOLF BLITZER, HOST: Happening now. It doesn't happen every day but there's just been a formal apology released from Teresa Heinz Kerry to the first lady Laura Bush. How will this play out on the campaign trail with only 13 days left to go.
And the president's word against Pat Robertson's word. There's now been a denial from the White House.

Stand by for hard news on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(voice-over): Selling a vaccine on Capitol Hill. Should Congress get shots or set an example?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think we ought to wash our hands and do the other things we've been calling upon the public to do.

BLITZER: On the eve of war, stunning insight from a key Bush supporter.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was trying to say, Mr. President, you better prepare the American people for casualties. Oh, no, we won't have any casualties.

BLITZER: Did Pat Robertson get it right?

Battle over Iraq.

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The president's miscalculations have created a terrorist haven that wasn't there before.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: If Zarqawi and his associates were not busy fighting American forces in Iraq does Senator Kerry think he would be leading a productive and peaceful life?

BLITZER: He's back. Can the master campaigner make a difference in this campaign?

Ready for recounts. Is this election already in the hands of the lawyers?

ANNOUNCER: This is WOLF BLITZER REPORTS for Wednesday, October 20, 2004. (END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: There's a new twist to the controversy over the flu vaccine shortage. It involves the question of whether your elected officials here in Washington, on Capitol Hill, are receiving special treatment. Our congressional correspondent, Ed Henry, joining us now live with the latest -- Ed.

ED HENRY, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, the flu shot crisis has not yet hit Capitol Hill where nearly 2,000 vaccines have been handed out. That's raising questions about whether lawmakers are getting a sweetheart deal.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(voice-over): While average citizens are struggling to find a flu shot and face inflated prices, members of Congress have been easily getting the vaccine for free. The Senate Majority Leader Dr. Bill Frist denied lawmakers are getting special treatment.

SEN. BILL FRIST (R), MAJORITY LEADER: Absolutely not. The guidelines are clear.

HENRY: In September, before the shortage, Frist sent a letter to his 99 colleagues suggesting they get the vaccine. Frist says politicians shake so many hands and kiss so many babies, they could spread the flu. Frist now says it is up to individuals to follow CDC guidelines which say the vaccine should go to the elderly, very young, pregnant women and people with chronic illnesses.

FRIST: As soon as the shortage was made aware, then people looked at the new guidelines and that decision should be made by them and healthcare personnel and their physician.

HENRY: But the attending physician of the Capitol is suggesting otherwise. Dr. John Isold (ph) is telling lawmakers, congressional staff and police officers they should still get the vaccine even if they're young and healthy.

SEN. JOE LIEBERMAN (D), CONNECTICUT: Not only might we get the flu, we might then give it to other people. So I'm going to talk to the Senate doctor today and see whether I should the shot.

HENRY: But President Bush today said lawmakers shouldn't be getting the vaccine, telling Reuters, quote, "I think if they are able bodied I don't think they ought to. I'm not going to take the flu shot." Many lawmakers are heeding that call.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think we ought to wash our hands and do the other things that we're calling upon the public to do to try and keep themselves from getting sick.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HENRY: There are only a few dozen doses of flu shots left on Capitol Hill. And House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi is now urging the Congressional physician to donate the leftovers to senior citizens -- Wolf.

BLITZER: It's becoming a political hot potato. Ed, thank you very much.

Joining us now on the phone for more on the entire controversy, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Julie Gerberding. She's in Wiltsbury (ph), Pennsylvania. Very briefly, Dr. Gerberding, what do you make of whether or not the commander-in-chief for example, should get the flu shot? You could make a strong case, he needs it, the president of the United States, probably a lot more than other people.

DR. JULIE GERBERDING, CDC DIRECTOR: You know, we're in a situation where we've got vaccines available for many of the people in the high-risk groups but we're still trying to follow those priorities. And so CDC recommendations have been broadcast throughout the government. The president made the decision that he would follow those recommendations and that the administration was going to follow those recommendations. We're certainly following them at CDC.

I also understand the dilemma. When you have people who are in very public positions and have a great deal of contact with the public, I can understand why there would be a reason to make some thoughtful assessment of what's the risk and what's the benefit and how does this fit into the overall strategy. I don't think it is exceptional on Capitol Hill. I think there are many other examples where individuals and their physicians are facing some pretty hard decisions here.

BLITZER: What are the CDC guidelines for men and women in the United States military on active duty?

GERBERDING: Force protection is one of the priorities for utilizing the vaccine. So the Department of Defense is working on using the vaccine for those troops that are there protecting our nation. They've also purchased some of the flu mist that they can use for healthy troops because many of the people in the military can benefit from that vaccine. That is not the one we can use for the high priority groups. so the military has made some decisions to try to spare the vaccine that we're using for the priority people by switching to the flu mist vaccine.

BLITZER: Finally, Dr. Gerberding, since yesterday when Tommy Thompson, the secretary of health and human services announced some opportunities to get a few more vaccines, a few more shots, has there been any new progress on that front?

GERBERDING: Well, I'm here today at Aventis working with their team. This is a heroic bunch of people here and I can't tell you how hard they've worked around the clock to get vaccine out. We are committed to matching up the doses that are available over the next several weeks with the people who need them the most. I'm also very pleased about the secretary's announcement about the anti-viral drug. We actually have 20 semitrucks full of the one of the flu drugs available in our stockpile. All together enough treatment doses for 40 million Americans. So 60 million doses of vaccine and 40 million doses of treatment puts us in a lot better shape than we thought we were going to be in a couple weeks ago.

BLITZER: Dr. Julie Gerberding, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Thanks for spending a few moments with us. Good luck to you and your entire team over there.

And to our viewers, here is your chance to weigh in on the story. Our web question of the day is this. Should members and employees of the Congress get flu shots despite the vaccine shortage? You can vote right now. Go to CNN.com/wolf. We'll have the results later in this broadcast.

As they shuttled around battleground states, the presidential contenders today focused on a real battleground, namely the Democrat John Kerry launching his harshest attack yet at President Bush's record as commander-in-chief. Let's go live to our national correspondent Frank Buckley. He's on the campaign trail today in Pittsburgh.

FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Wolf. Shortly, Senator Kerry will be here in Pittsburgh at Carnegie Mellon University for a rally. But earlier today he was in Iowa to deliver a national security speech very critical of President Bush saying that President Bush hadn't made America safer. He called the war in Iraq a diversion from the war on terror.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(voice-over): Senator John Kerry went after President Bush on what polling shows is still a strength for the incumbent president, his ability to lead on Iraq and in the war on terror.

KERRY: You know, the president says he's a leader. Well, Mr. President, look behind you. There's hardly anyone there. It's not leadership which haven't built the strongest alliance possible and if America is going almost alone.

BUCKLEY: Kerry's criticisms coming amid a steady stream of pointed jabs from President Bush on Kerry's national security credentials and on his proposals for Iraq.

KERRY: Last month I spelled out my specific strategy for how we can be successful. Now, President Bush is running around the country trying to claim that my plan is what he's already doing. Well, ladies and gentlemen, he could not be more wrong or more out of touch with reality.

BUCKLEY: Kerry said, for one, he would establish an international advisory group for Iraq that would include key allies and Iraq's neighbors, something Kerry claims Bush cannot do because of the way other countries have been treated by this administration.

KERRY: Instead of reaching out to allies to get their help in training Iraqi security forces, which should have been our most urgent priority, this administration issued a new order prohibiting countries that were not part of the original coalition from participating in any reconstruction contracts in Iraq. I mean, that's almost like a schoolyard decision, you know. You hit me, therefore, I'm not going to do this, and things tumble downwards. You learn more in elementary school and high school than they seem to have applied in the conduct of this war.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BUCKLEY: So the tough criticism coming earlier today in Iowa. Next stop here in Pittsburgh where Senator Kerry will be attending a rally at the university. It is his second visit to Pennsylvania in two days, signifying the importance of this top-tier battleground state -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Frank Buckley joining us. Thanks, Frank, very much.

President Bush took up the challenge today in his own hard- hitting Iowa appearance. He has moved on now to Eau Claire, Wisconsin. And that's where we find our White House correspondent, Dana Bash -- Dana.

DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, the president hit three rural areas today and he was playing up his conservative credentials, talking about the values issue, as he calls them, calling john Kerry somebody who is for big government, somebody who is liberal as we've heard him.

The plan was for him to leave it there, but with 13 days left to go, the president's team decided they could not let John Kerry's speech on national security go unanswered.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BASH (voice-over): With his opponent some 80 miles away saying the Iraq war proves the president is not the leader he claims to be, Mr. Bush veered from his speech on the economy and health care in rural Iowa to fire back.

BUSH: Iraq is no diversion, but a central commitment in the war on terror.

BASH: Diversion is what Senator Kerry calls Iraq, trying to prove him wrong, the president seized on a new statement from Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who many call responsible for terror attacks in Iraq now.

BUSH: Zarqawi publicly announced his sworn allegiance to Osama bin Laden. If Zarqawi and his associates were not busy fighting American forces in Iraq, does Senator Kerry think he would be leading a productive and peaceful life?

BASH: Kerry aides say the president is missing the point, that terrorism is rampant in Iraq because of Mr. Bush's poor post-war planning. Mr. Bush also jumped on an oft-quoted "New York Times" article where Kerry adviser Richard Holbrook called the war on terror a metaphor like the war on poverty.

BUSH: Confusing food programs with terrorist killings reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of the war we face. And that is very dangerous thinking.

BASH: All this at the first of three stops in blue states the president is determinied to turn red. The last time Iowa and Wisconsin went Republican was 1984. Minnesota picked Jimmy Carter in 1976 and hasn't voted GOP since.

But the Midwest trio adds up to 27 electoral votes, the same number as the coveted Florida, seven more than all-important Ohio. And polls show each state very close.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BASH: The president's aides were well aware, responding to John Kerry would step on their planned message of the day, which was domestic issues, especially health care. But Bush officials say that John Kerry was essentially playing on their turf. And if that's the case, if he wants to do that, they're happy to engage -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Dana Bash in Wisconsin for us. Thanks, Dana, very much.

Meanwhile, the campaigns are gearing up for a possible repeat of the Florida fiasco in the last presidential election. We'll have more on the legal dream teams both sides are already lining up. That's coming up later this hour.

He's the consummate campaigner, sidelined by surgery, but now he's getting ready to come back. The former president of the United States, Bill Clinton, about to hit the campaign trail for John Kerry.

Also, a deadly commuter plane crash. We'll have late information from the scene on the search for survivors.

Plus this...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PAT ROBERTSON, FMR. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I had deep misgivings about this war, deep misgivings. And I was trying to say, Mr. President, you had better prepare the American people for casualties.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: The president's reply. There has been an official statement now from the White House. Details of a surprising conversation and what the White House is saying about it. All that coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: In Iraq today, U.S. war planes struck at targets in the insurgent stronghold of Falluja. But some residents say they were the wrong targets.

CNN's Karl Penhaul reports from Baghdad. KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Rescuers pulled bodies from this bomb site after a pre-dawn U.S. air strike on Falluja. A U.S. military statement said war planes destroyed two terrorists hideouts used by the al-Zarqawi network. Army sources say gunmen were spotted outside the buildings just before the raid.

But the rescuers say these corpses wrapped in blankets are a mother, father, and four children. So far that has been impossible to independently verify.

What did these families and children do to be killed? Was Abu Musab al-Zarqaei in there eating with them? This is unacceptable, he says.

An Army spokesman couldn't confirm reports of civilian casualties. In Baghdad, the wait went on for news of kidnapped aid worker Margaret Hassan, a dual British-Iraqi citizen. CARE International, Hassan's organization, said it was suspending all its aid projects in Iraq for the time being.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): The kidnapping happened when my wife arrived at her work. Two cars intercepted her from front and back. They attacked her car and pulled out the driver and a companion. Then they took the car and drove away to an unknown location.

PENHAUL: No demands, either political or financial, have been made so far. Even before this kidnapping, most aid organizations pulled out because of safety concerns. Those that remain have been taking a very low profile.

Karl Penhaul, CNN, Baghdad. .

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: A U.S. Army reservist pleaded guilty today in that Iraqi prisoner abuse scandal which sent shockwaves around the world. He could face up to 11 years in prison.

Let's go live to our senior Pentagon correspodent, Jamie McIntyre -- Jamie.

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SR. PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, while Staff Sergeant Frederick pleaded guilty to abusing Iraqi at Abu Ghraib, he also a military court outside Baghdad that the humiliation and abuse was for, quote, "military intelligence purposes."

During a November 4, 2003 incident, Frederick admitted that he helped place wires on the detainees hands and told him he would be electrocuted if he fell off the box. In another incident, November 8, also documented in a photograph, Frederick admitted joining other soldiers in jumping on a pile of seven detainees accused of rioting.

He said at one point he hit one detainee in the chest so hard that he required medical attention. All together, Staff Sergeant Frederick, who is a military policeman, admitted to eight counts of assault, committing an indecent act, conspiracy, maltreatment of detainees, and dereliction of duty.

And although he is a corrections officer in civilian life, Frederick said he received no training in the handling of prisoners and blamed his chain of command, in part.

He is expected to be sentenced tomorrow and could get up to 11 years -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Jamie McIntyre, thanks very much.

A desperate search for survivors after that firey crash of a commuter plane. We're on the scene with details.

And life in prison with Martha Stewart. Fellow inmates beginning to tell the inside story. We'll share it with you later.

A New York courtroom becomes the real "no spin zone." Will Bill O'Reilly and his accuser face off? Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: At least eight people died in the crash of that commuter plane near Kirksville, Missouri. But there are at least two survivors. And with five people still missing, there is some hope that number could grow. Jeff Lea of CNN affiliate KMOV is there.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEFF LEA, KMOV CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Northeast Regional Medical Center's Dr. Charles Zimman (ph) coordinated the trauma care for the two plane crash survivors.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We see car accidents with worse injuries come in here every week and this is truly a miracle.

LEA: Dr. Zimman says he talked with the survivors as they treated their injuries. A 44-year-old woman suffered a fractured arm and first, second,and third-degree burns over 8 percent of her body. The man, in his late 60s, suffered a fractured left hip and a fractured lumbar spine. And the victims told him how they got out alive.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They're just going down, all of a sudden they says they knew they knew they were hitting trees. And then they just saw an opening and felt heat and they both jumped out an opening of the fuselage and he crawled approximately 20 feet away from the plane. I understand she was up walking around waiting for the ambulance and actually waved down an ambulance and then walked back to the wreckage.

LEA: There is an amazing twist to this story. Dr. Zimman says he knew his male patient. He was once his instructor of anatomy at the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine. He was retired and well known at the hospital.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's a very nice guy. It was pretty hard. There wasn't a dry eye in the entire hospital last night. (END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: That report from Jeff Lea of CNN affiliate KMOV.

Sidelined by surgery, a political powerhouse poised to start stumping again. The former president, Bill Clinton putting his star power to work in the days ahead. We'll have details.

And 13 days to go. Why is this election already in the hands of lawyers? Is it?

Plus, Bill O'Reilly versus his former associate producer. The legal teams of the accused and the accuser will come face to face Friday. We'll have a full report. That's coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back. Getting back on the stump, the former president Bill Clinton will soon go to bat for the Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry. Details coming up.

First, a quick check of some other stories now in the news.

The small island nation of Fiji is the first country to answer the United Nations' call for protection in Iraq. Fiji says it will send 130 troops to Baghdad to provide security for U.N. officials and facilities. The troops are expected to arrive next month.

U.S. officials now say information from an informant that there might be a terror attack on election day is, quote, "not credible." However, one official says there's no reason for less concern because al Qaeda is very interested in attacking the United States this year.

Despite a flu vaccine shortage, some inmates in federal and state prisons will be getting their flu shots. Prison officials say the inmates are high risk, either 65 and older or suffering from a chronic medical condition.

In New York, the rock singer Courtney Love pleaded guilty to a disorderly conduct charge. She was accused of hitting a man with a microphone stand in a nightclub last March. A judge ordered Love to join a drug treatment program and pay the man more than $2,000 for medical bills. Keeping you informed, CNN, the most trusted name in news.

He could prove to be the Kerry campaign's not so secret weapon in the neck and neck campaign. Former president Bill Clinton, sidelined by surgery, is about to come to the aid of his fellow Democrat.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(voice-over): When it comes to political star power, he's at the top of the list. Former President Bill Clinton, sidelined by surgery, is about to come to the aid of his fellow Democrat.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) BLITZER (voice-over): When it comes to political star power, he is at the top of the list, former President and consummate campaigner Bill Clinton. As the race between George Bush and John Kerry grew hotter and closer over the last six weeks, Clinton was stuck at home in Chappaqua, New York, recovering from quadruple bypass surgery.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He looks a lot better than he did a few weeks ago.

BLITZER: But now Clinton is poised to start stumping for Kerry, who gave the first indication himself yesterday in Pennsylvania.

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I think it's possible in the next days, former President Clinton may be here working. We're all working. And I am not going to leave any vote unasked for.

BLITZER: Today, an aide confirmed to CNN that Mr. Clinton will appear with Kerry at a campaign event Monday in Philadelphia. No word from Clinton himself, who the aides said was tucked away for the day resting at home.

News of the joint campaign appearance comes on the same day a new fund-raising letter from Clinton went out to would-be Democratic donors full of themes Clinton may use on the stump, including nothing less than the future of our country is at stake, so much riding on the outcome of this election, and America's future is on the ballot this year.

Clinton was almost persona non grata during the 2000 campaign, as Al Gore tried to distance himself from his boss' troubled second term, which was dominated by the Monica Lewinsky scandal and his impeachment. Did distancing Clinton hurt Gore?

WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST: Gore did as well as he did, he carried the popular vote because Clinton's record was so strong. But, in the end, voters, after all the trauma of the Clinton years, wanted a change.

BLITZER: Since then, the country has gone through a devastating terror attack, two wars and a recession, leaving many Democrats nostalgic for the boom years of the Clinton administration. But can the former president give John Kerry the edge he needs to pull ahead in one of the tightest races in recent memory?

SCHNEIDER: Bill Clinton gets Democratic juices flowing. Democrats love Bill Clinton. So he's a guy you want to use with base Democratic voters, with minorities, with liberals, to get those people to the polls.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: John Kerry's wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, is apologizing for a comment she made about the first lady Laura Bush's job experience. In an interview with "USA Today," Heinz Kerry asked how she would be different from Mrs. Bush as first lady. As part of a lengthy response, she said she didn't know if the first lady has ever had what in her words a real job. She went on to say she sees her experiences and age as a benefit. She's 66. The first lady is 57. Today, Heinz Kerry issued a statement saying she's sincerely sorry for not remembering that the first lady spent 10 years as a schoolteacher and a librarian.

She added -- and I'm quoting now -- "There couldn't be a more important job than teaching our children."

The Bush camp jump indeed with this response on CNN's "INSIDE POLITICS."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KAREN HUGHES, BUSH-CHENEY CAMPAIGN ADVISER: Well, I think it's very nice that she apologized. But, in some ways, the apology almost made the comment worse, because she seems to have forgotten that being a mother is a real job.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: This exchange, of course, is just the latest example of the fireworks in the last days of the fight for the White House.

One more footnote to the whole controversy of the flu vaccine. We have now been told by the White House that the vice president, Dick Cheney, has received a flu shot. Cheney of course has a history of heart disease. He was inoculated at the advice of his doctor, according to a spokeswoman. Treasury Secretary John Snow, who is 65 years old, also has received a flu shot.

As you know by now, the president says he will not receive one. Yesterday, Tommy Thompson, the secretary of health and human services, says he won't receive one either because he is under 65 years old.

Meanwhile, both sides are bracing for a repeat of 2000, setting up dream teams ready to wage legal warfare in the event of another Florida-like fiasco.

Here to talk about that, two guests, the former Clinton White House counsel Jack Quinn, and C. Boyden Gray, the former White House counsel under the first President Bush.

Gentlemen, thanks so much for joining us.

First of all, I'll start with you, Boyden Gray. Do you think it's likely there is going to be another legal fiasco this time around?

C. BOYDEN GRAY, FORMER WHITE HOUSE COUNSEL: Well, certainly, people think there is a substantial chance of that. I worry about it. The election is so close, right now anyway, it looks. And it wouldn't take much to ignite the kind of fracas we had four years ago. That would be a terrible thing, in my opinion. I don't think lawyers should be deciding and judges should be deciding elections.

(CROSSTALK)

BLITZER: We're going to get to some specific legal issues in a moment.

Do you agree?

JACK QUINN, FORMER WHITE HOUSE COUNSEL: Absolutely.

The American people feel better about their democracy, their elections and their country if they feel that real people are casting real ballots, rather than having lawyers and judges decide the outcome of these elections.

BLITZER: So, assuming that the legal dream teams are already being established, Boyden Gray, where do you think the fight is going to take place and on what issues, assuming it is a very, very close election?

GRAY: Well, you won't really know. But it will be wherever the election is close. It could be Ohio. It could be Florida. It could be Wisconsin, or wherever the electoral votes are very closely contested.

And it will be on alleged voter suppression. It will be on something that will be like the butterfly ballot. We don't know. I don't know.

BLITZER: If the touch-screen votes, the computerized votes, for example, if there is some sort of a technical glitch, that's a great opportunity for lawyers to step in.

(CROSSTALK)

GRAY: That's correct.

BLITZER: What do you think?

QUINN: Yes, 74 percent of the American people are going to use the same kind of voting machines they used in the year 2000.

BLITZER: The punch cards, you mean?

QUINN: Punch cards, machines that sometimes don't register votes accurately. And, as Boyden Gray says -- I agree with him here, too -- if you have a state, a critical state, that's razor thin in the majority from one candidate or the other, it makes that state ripe for lawyers' work.

BLITZER: Jack, a lot of people -- you are a good Democrat -- think the Republicans legally last time around in Florida were much better prepared for the legal battle in Florida than the Democrats were. If you assume that's the case, have the Democrats learned their lesson? QUINN: I think the Democrats have learned their lesson. I would also say that the Republican -- and I know Boyden will disagree with this -- had the courts on their side, had Republican judges, particularly on the Supreme Court.

(CROSSTALK)

BLITZER: The U.S. Supreme Court.

QUINN: Right.

BLITZER: Although the Florida Supreme Court had a little different take on it.

QUINN: That's true.

But, look, we all hope it never gets to this. We hope that -- I certainly hope that one way or another this election is so clear that the army of lawyers getting ready to fight fights over legal issues in this campaign are unnecessary. We hope they're like life insurance. You've got it there just in case. But, hopefully, you won't die and need it.

BLITZER: You agree?

GRAY: I agree. I think the Florida Supreme Court made some very key rulings that dictated the outcome, to make the point I'm trying to, that you have these things cancel each other out.

And, sure, there may have been a glitch in some polling place in some state in some precinct. But the chances are, it was canceled out by a glitch on the other side in another polling place. And you should just let the system work and not try to go in and pick at a particular problem that may be true, but it's likely to be counteracted.

QUINN: Interestingly or perhaps even ironically, one of the things that may give rise to an awful lot of legal challenges is some of the steps that Congress took to try to make things better.

They required provisional voting, so that if you move from one place to another, people who are ultimately deemed eligible to vote can vote, even though on Election Day their names may not appear on the rolls. That whole process may be the hanging chad.

BLITZER: Well, this is a sensitive issue, because in Ohio, for example, and Florida, there have been two different court rulings already. If you have a provisional ballot, meaning you're going to vote, but you do it and not in your precinct, it might not be valid, at least in Florida, as opposed to Ohio, for example, where they're being a little bit more generous and saying, you know what? You didn't vote in the right precinct. But at least you voted and you're a United States citizen and you're eligible.

GRAY: Well, that's one of the problems. Are you in the right precinct? Do you have an I.D.? The courts are sort of splitting both ways on that, as I understand it. Are you a prisoner? Can you vote if you are a felon? And there will be questions about absentee ballot that may not come in, in time. I think in one state -- I've heard that in one state they will accept absentee ballots up until November 10.

BLITZER: Here is a fundamental question a lot of people are asking. And we'll wrap it up on this. If it comes down to the United States Supreme Court once again, can we assume that the president of the United States will be reelected?

Jack.

QUINN: No. I don't want to cast that aspersion on the United States Supreme Court.

BLITZER: So, in other words, the politics, even you, a good Democrat, wouldn't necessarily think that.

QUINN: I have to trust and pray that they will do what is in the interest of this nation and do the right thing.

GRAY: Yes, I think that's an aspersion on the court. I think, as the journalists, the media determined later, if they had had the full recount and had all the time in the world to do it, Bush would have won.

I think, this time around, let's hope and pray that there is enough discipline on the part of everybody that we'll have a nominee, an elected candidate on the morning of Wednesday.

BLITZER: C. Boyden Gray, on that note, let's hope and pray.

(LAUGHTER)

BLITZER: Thanks very much.

Jack Quinn, thanks to you as well.

(CROSSTALK)

QUINN: Thank you.

BLITZER: Did President Bush really expect the United States to win the war in Iraq without sustaining any casualties? Bush supporter Pat Robertson raises new questions during a candid conversation. And now the White House is responding.

Life inside Camp Cupcake. We'll bring you details of Martha Stewart's first days behind prison walls.

And later, is the curse alive? Hopeful Bostonians hoping not. Their struggle for the championship ahead -- all that coming up.

First, though, a quick look at some other news making headlines around the world.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): Lebanon's prime minister resigned today and said he will not form a new government. The move comes after the Constitution was changed last month to allow Lebanon's Syrian-backed president to remain in office. At the same time, the U.N. Security Council is again demanding that Syria pull its 14,000 troops out of Lebanon.

Is it art? Britain's most prestigious art award, the Turner Prize, is the center of controversy. A digital construction of Osama bin Laden's former home in Afghanistan is a key part of a collection that's a leading contender. But its film had to be withdrawn because it focuses on a former Afghan commander who is on trial in London on charges of hostage taking and torture.

Deadly storm. A powerful typhoon battered southern and central Japan, killing more than a dozen people. It is the second typhoon to hit Japan in two weeks.

And that's our look around the world.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: President Bush's decision to go to war in Iraq is getting new scrutiny today after a surprising assertion by one of his strongest supporters.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): President Bush says he weighed all the evidence before going to war in Iraq.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Look, I understand the serious consequences of committing our troops into harm's way. It's the hardest decision a president makes.

BLITZER: Critics have argued that the president never understood the full consequences of going to war. And now an assertion by a prominent Bush supporter, Christian Coalition founder Pat Robertson, is raising new questions. Robertson told CNN's Paula Zahn he had a conversation with the president before the war.

PAT ROBERTSON, AUTHOR, "COURTING DISASTER": I had deep misgivings about this war, deep misgivings. And I was trying to say, Mr. President, you better prepare the American people for casualties.

Oh, no, we're not going to have any casualties.

BLITZER: Kerry campaign adviser Mike McCurry reaction to Robertson's statement. He said -- quote -- "We believe President Bush should get the benefit of the doubt, but he needs to come forward and answer a very simple question: Is Pat Robertson telling the truth when he said you didn't think there'd be any casualties or is Pat Robertson lying?" -- unquote. Many observers say the president went to war with faulty assumptions. "The New York Times"' chief military correspondent, Michael Gordon, has spent a lot of time embedded with U.S. forces in Iraq.

MICHAEL GORDON, "THE NEW YORK TIMES": But when the Bush administration went in, it had what I would consider to be some very optimistic and, really, unrealistic set of expectation about what would unfold in Iraq.

BLITZER: Gordon says even after the initial phase of fighting, the faulty assumptions continued, including overly hopeful estimates of when troop withdrawals could begin.

GORDON: The plan that General Franks brought on April 16, now, this is really less than two weeks after American forces entered Baghdad, was to go down to a division-plus by September 2003 or some 30,000 troops. It seems fanciful now, but that was the goal at the time.

BLITZER: Pentagon sources tell CNN there were hopes troop withdrawals could begin quickly, but many military officials always had their doubts, even before the insurgency started gathering momentum.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: And late today, the White House released a statement confirming that President Bush met with Pat Robertson before the Iraq war, but flatly denying that the president ever said he expected no casualties. Scott McClellan, the White House press secretary, said this: "The president never made such a comment."

It's he said/she said now. Fox News host Bill O'Reilly's attorney set to face off with his accuser's attorney in court. We have new details.

Also, Martha Stewart's first weeks in prison. Are inmates warming up to the gourmet guru? Learn new details of her experiences inside what they call Camp Cupcake.

And more on last night's historic baseball game that moved the Boston Red Sox one step closer to the playoffs and pushed the New York Yankees one step away. We'll see what happens tonight.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Word is leaking out of the federal women's prison in Alderson, West Virginia, about its most famous inmate, Martha Stewart.

CNN's Deborah Feyerick, joining us now live from New York, she has got some details -- Deborah.

DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, look, Martha Stewart is getting along OK inside Alderson Federal Prison Camp. She confirms it on her Web site, MarthaTalks.com, saying everyone is nice and that she has adjusted.

In fact, the inmates seem to have adjusted to her as well. On another Web site, PrisonTalkOnline, an Internet user who goes by the name Still Mommy's Girl says her mother recently got out of Alderson prison and that a friend told her Stewart is very, very cool and a sweet, nice person, that Stewart walks the track with the other inmates, spends time in the library typing in her journal, eats in the chow hall and complains about the food, just like the rest of the inmates.

The writer says Stewart has made friends and that everyone loves her there and follows her around. The prison Web site is used by former inmates who stay in touch with women on the inside. A prison official would not confirm reports on that prison Web site that Stewart offered to provide her name brand sheets to her prison pals. The official would say it is a rumor that Stewart was picking crab apples to cook.

Stewart was busy last week meeting with her appeals lawyer. He has said there are at least five major issues, including juror misconduct, that could be grounds to reverse Stewart's conviction. Those appeal papers are expected to be filed by tonight's midnight deadline -- Wolf.

BLITZER: All right, Deborah Feyerick, thanks very much.

Sticking in New York, the lawsuit filed by Fox News host Bill O'Reilly against a former employee accusing him of sexual harassment is about to get its first court hearing.

For more on that, let's go back to New York once again, CNN's Alina Cho standing by -- Alina.

ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, this case is indeed moving forward. A hearing will be held on Friday morning in Nassau County, New York. Now, that's on Long Island, where Bill O'Reilly lives.

Both O'Reilly's and Andrea Mackris' attorneys will be there. O'Reilly and Mackris themselves are not expected to attend. Now, this marks the first time the two sides will face off in court. The hearing will deal, as you mentioned, with the extortion case O'Reilly and Fox have filed against Mackris. A spokesman for the court told CNN that Mackris' legal team has been ordered to keep any recorded conversations between Mackris and O'Reilly, if they exist, but for now will not be required to produce them.

The O'Reilly team has made an earlier request for any recordings. Andrea Mackris was an associate producer for "The O'Reilly Factor," although she says she was told not to return to work. Earlier this month, she filed a sexual harassment suit accusing the Fox News star of creating a sexually hostile work environment. Mackris says O'Reilly made sexual lewd comments to her and pressured her to engage in phone sex.

O'Reilly and Fox have filed their own lawsuit accusing Mackris and her attorney of attempted extortion, which they have denied. Now, O'Reilly's attorney appearing on ABC this morning said -- quote -- "Put up or shut up." On his radio show recently, O'Reilly himself said -- quote -- "This is my fault. I was stupid. And I'm not a victim, but I can't allow certain things to happen."

And, finally, Wolf, according to her lawyer's office, Andrea Mackris is said to be spending time with her family in Manhattan -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Alina Cho reporting for us from Manhattan as well -- thank you, Alina, very much.

Is the curse of the Bambino finally over? Coming up, our picture of the day. Some Boston Red Sox fans certainly hope so.

And our Web question of the day is this: Should members and employees of the U.S. Congress get flu shots despite the vaccine shortage? The results for you when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Here's how you're weighing in on our Web question of the day: Should members and employees of Congress get flu shots despite the vaccine shortage? Fourteen percent of you say yes; 86 percent of you say no. Remember, though, this is not a scientific poll.

Finally, what may be the most intense rivalry in U.S. pro sports history heading for its latest climax tonight, when the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox play the seventh and final game of the American League Championship Series. The Red Sox are hoping to make it to the World Series for the first time since 1986. And their very hopeful fans are our picture of the day.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You go to a play, you basically know what's going to happen. You go to a movie, you can usually figure it out in the first 10 minutes. You don't know what's going to happen tonight. This is theater. It's wonderful.

ANNOUNCER: ... being aggressive.

(APPLAUSE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think they got it. I think they got it. After the run they've been on, nobody has done that before, this is the year.

ANNOUNCER: That's down the left field line, big trouble. Matsui on the run.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So they're going to go all the way?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You're damn right they are. I've come all the way from England to see this. They're going to all the way.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And what are you saying today?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Please, God!

UNIDENTIFIED MALES: Let's go Red Sox.

UNIDENTIFIED MALES: Who's your Papi? Who's your Papi?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: David Ortiz is like Jesus. He's with you when you need him. He puts you on his back and carries you!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: By game time, it's going to be extraordinarily exciting in here. And when we win, it's going to be even more exciting.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: I'm excited. I suppose everyone is excited by now.

A reminder, we're on weekdays, 5:00 p.m. Eastern, as well as noon Eastern. Thanks very much for joining us.

"LOU DOBBS TONIGHT" starts right now.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com


Aired October 20, 2004 - 17:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, HOST: Happening now. It doesn't happen every day but there's just been a formal apology released from Teresa Heinz Kerry to the first lady Laura Bush. How will this play out on the campaign trail with only 13 days left to go.
And the president's word against Pat Robertson's word. There's now been a denial from the White House.

Stand by for hard news on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(voice-over): Selling a vaccine on Capitol Hill. Should Congress get shots or set an example?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think we ought to wash our hands and do the other things we've been calling upon the public to do.

BLITZER: On the eve of war, stunning insight from a key Bush supporter.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was trying to say, Mr. President, you better prepare the American people for casualties. Oh, no, we won't have any casualties.

BLITZER: Did Pat Robertson get it right?

Battle over Iraq.

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The president's miscalculations have created a terrorist haven that wasn't there before.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: If Zarqawi and his associates were not busy fighting American forces in Iraq does Senator Kerry think he would be leading a productive and peaceful life?

BLITZER: He's back. Can the master campaigner make a difference in this campaign?

Ready for recounts. Is this election already in the hands of the lawyers?

ANNOUNCER: This is WOLF BLITZER REPORTS for Wednesday, October 20, 2004. (END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: There's a new twist to the controversy over the flu vaccine shortage. It involves the question of whether your elected officials here in Washington, on Capitol Hill, are receiving special treatment. Our congressional correspondent, Ed Henry, joining us now live with the latest -- Ed.

ED HENRY, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, the flu shot crisis has not yet hit Capitol Hill where nearly 2,000 vaccines have been handed out. That's raising questions about whether lawmakers are getting a sweetheart deal.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(voice-over): While average citizens are struggling to find a flu shot and face inflated prices, members of Congress have been easily getting the vaccine for free. The Senate Majority Leader Dr. Bill Frist denied lawmakers are getting special treatment.

SEN. BILL FRIST (R), MAJORITY LEADER: Absolutely not. The guidelines are clear.

HENRY: In September, before the shortage, Frist sent a letter to his 99 colleagues suggesting they get the vaccine. Frist says politicians shake so many hands and kiss so many babies, they could spread the flu. Frist now says it is up to individuals to follow CDC guidelines which say the vaccine should go to the elderly, very young, pregnant women and people with chronic illnesses.

FRIST: As soon as the shortage was made aware, then people looked at the new guidelines and that decision should be made by them and healthcare personnel and their physician.

HENRY: But the attending physician of the Capitol is suggesting otherwise. Dr. John Isold (ph) is telling lawmakers, congressional staff and police officers they should still get the vaccine even if they're young and healthy.

SEN. JOE LIEBERMAN (D), CONNECTICUT: Not only might we get the flu, we might then give it to other people. So I'm going to talk to the Senate doctor today and see whether I should the shot.

HENRY: But President Bush today said lawmakers shouldn't be getting the vaccine, telling Reuters, quote, "I think if they are able bodied I don't think they ought to. I'm not going to take the flu shot." Many lawmakers are heeding that call.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think we ought to wash our hands and do the other things that we're calling upon the public to do to try and keep themselves from getting sick.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HENRY: There are only a few dozen doses of flu shots left on Capitol Hill. And House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi is now urging the Congressional physician to donate the leftovers to senior citizens -- Wolf.

BLITZER: It's becoming a political hot potato. Ed, thank you very much.

Joining us now on the phone for more on the entire controversy, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Julie Gerberding. She's in Wiltsbury (ph), Pennsylvania. Very briefly, Dr. Gerberding, what do you make of whether or not the commander-in-chief for example, should get the flu shot? You could make a strong case, he needs it, the president of the United States, probably a lot more than other people.

DR. JULIE GERBERDING, CDC DIRECTOR: You know, we're in a situation where we've got vaccines available for many of the people in the high-risk groups but we're still trying to follow those priorities. And so CDC recommendations have been broadcast throughout the government. The president made the decision that he would follow those recommendations and that the administration was going to follow those recommendations. We're certainly following them at CDC.

I also understand the dilemma. When you have people who are in very public positions and have a great deal of contact with the public, I can understand why there would be a reason to make some thoughtful assessment of what's the risk and what's the benefit and how does this fit into the overall strategy. I don't think it is exceptional on Capitol Hill. I think there are many other examples where individuals and their physicians are facing some pretty hard decisions here.

BLITZER: What are the CDC guidelines for men and women in the United States military on active duty?

GERBERDING: Force protection is one of the priorities for utilizing the vaccine. So the Department of Defense is working on using the vaccine for those troops that are there protecting our nation. They've also purchased some of the flu mist that they can use for healthy troops because many of the people in the military can benefit from that vaccine. That is not the one we can use for the high priority groups. so the military has made some decisions to try to spare the vaccine that we're using for the priority people by switching to the flu mist vaccine.

BLITZER: Finally, Dr. Gerberding, since yesterday when Tommy Thompson, the secretary of health and human services announced some opportunities to get a few more vaccines, a few more shots, has there been any new progress on that front?

GERBERDING: Well, I'm here today at Aventis working with their team. This is a heroic bunch of people here and I can't tell you how hard they've worked around the clock to get vaccine out. We are committed to matching up the doses that are available over the next several weeks with the people who need them the most. I'm also very pleased about the secretary's announcement about the anti-viral drug. We actually have 20 semitrucks full of the one of the flu drugs available in our stockpile. All together enough treatment doses for 40 million Americans. So 60 million doses of vaccine and 40 million doses of treatment puts us in a lot better shape than we thought we were going to be in a couple weeks ago.

BLITZER: Dr. Julie Gerberding, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Thanks for spending a few moments with us. Good luck to you and your entire team over there.

And to our viewers, here is your chance to weigh in on the story. Our web question of the day is this. Should members and employees of the Congress get flu shots despite the vaccine shortage? You can vote right now. Go to CNN.com/wolf. We'll have the results later in this broadcast.

As they shuttled around battleground states, the presidential contenders today focused on a real battleground, namely the Democrat John Kerry launching his harshest attack yet at President Bush's record as commander-in-chief. Let's go live to our national correspondent Frank Buckley. He's on the campaign trail today in Pittsburgh.

FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Wolf. Shortly, Senator Kerry will be here in Pittsburgh at Carnegie Mellon University for a rally. But earlier today he was in Iowa to deliver a national security speech very critical of President Bush saying that President Bush hadn't made America safer. He called the war in Iraq a diversion from the war on terror.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(voice-over): Senator John Kerry went after President Bush on what polling shows is still a strength for the incumbent president, his ability to lead on Iraq and in the war on terror.

KERRY: You know, the president says he's a leader. Well, Mr. President, look behind you. There's hardly anyone there. It's not leadership which haven't built the strongest alliance possible and if America is going almost alone.

BUCKLEY: Kerry's criticisms coming amid a steady stream of pointed jabs from President Bush on Kerry's national security credentials and on his proposals for Iraq.

KERRY: Last month I spelled out my specific strategy for how we can be successful. Now, President Bush is running around the country trying to claim that my plan is what he's already doing. Well, ladies and gentlemen, he could not be more wrong or more out of touch with reality.

BUCKLEY: Kerry said, for one, he would establish an international advisory group for Iraq that would include key allies and Iraq's neighbors, something Kerry claims Bush cannot do because of the way other countries have been treated by this administration.

KERRY: Instead of reaching out to allies to get their help in training Iraqi security forces, which should have been our most urgent priority, this administration issued a new order prohibiting countries that were not part of the original coalition from participating in any reconstruction contracts in Iraq. I mean, that's almost like a schoolyard decision, you know. You hit me, therefore, I'm not going to do this, and things tumble downwards. You learn more in elementary school and high school than they seem to have applied in the conduct of this war.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BUCKLEY: So the tough criticism coming earlier today in Iowa. Next stop here in Pittsburgh where Senator Kerry will be attending a rally at the university. It is his second visit to Pennsylvania in two days, signifying the importance of this top-tier battleground state -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Frank Buckley joining us. Thanks, Frank, very much.

President Bush took up the challenge today in his own hard- hitting Iowa appearance. He has moved on now to Eau Claire, Wisconsin. And that's where we find our White House correspondent, Dana Bash -- Dana.

DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, the president hit three rural areas today and he was playing up his conservative credentials, talking about the values issue, as he calls them, calling john Kerry somebody who is for big government, somebody who is liberal as we've heard him.

The plan was for him to leave it there, but with 13 days left to go, the president's team decided they could not let John Kerry's speech on national security go unanswered.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BASH (voice-over): With his opponent some 80 miles away saying the Iraq war proves the president is not the leader he claims to be, Mr. Bush veered from his speech on the economy and health care in rural Iowa to fire back.

BUSH: Iraq is no diversion, but a central commitment in the war on terror.

BASH: Diversion is what Senator Kerry calls Iraq, trying to prove him wrong, the president seized on a new statement from Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who many call responsible for terror attacks in Iraq now.

BUSH: Zarqawi publicly announced his sworn allegiance to Osama bin Laden. If Zarqawi and his associates were not busy fighting American forces in Iraq, does Senator Kerry think he would be leading a productive and peaceful life?

BASH: Kerry aides say the president is missing the point, that terrorism is rampant in Iraq because of Mr. Bush's poor post-war planning. Mr. Bush also jumped on an oft-quoted "New York Times" article where Kerry adviser Richard Holbrook called the war on terror a metaphor like the war on poverty.

BUSH: Confusing food programs with terrorist killings reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of the war we face. And that is very dangerous thinking.

BASH: All this at the first of three stops in blue states the president is determinied to turn red. The last time Iowa and Wisconsin went Republican was 1984. Minnesota picked Jimmy Carter in 1976 and hasn't voted GOP since.

But the Midwest trio adds up to 27 electoral votes, the same number as the coveted Florida, seven more than all-important Ohio. And polls show each state very close.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BASH: The president's aides were well aware, responding to John Kerry would step on their planned message of the day, which was domestic issues, especially health care. But Bush officials say that John Kerry was essentially playing on their turf. And if that's the case, if he wants to do that, they're happy to engage -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Dana Bash in Wisconsin for us. Thanks, Dana, very much.

Meanwhile, the campaigns are gearing up for a possible repeat of the Florida fiasco in the last presidential election. We'll have more on the legal dream teams both sides are already lining up. That's coming up later this hour.

He's the consummate campaigner, sidelined by surgery, but now he's getting ready to come back. The former president of the United States, Bill Clinton, about to hit the campaign trail for John Kerry.

Also, a deadly commuter plane crash. We'll have late information from the scene on the search for survivors.

Plus this...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PAT ROBERTSON, FMR. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I had deep misgivings about this war, deep misgivings. And I was trying to say, Mr. President, you had better prepare the American people for casualties.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: The president's reply. There has been an official statement now from the White House. Details of a surprising conversation and what the White House is saying about it. All that coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: In Iraq today, U.S. war planes struck at targets in the insurgent stronghold of Falluja. But some residents say they were the wrong targets.

CNN's Karl Penhaul reports from Baghdad. KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Rescuers pulled bodies from this bomb site after a pre-dawn U.S. air strike on Falluja. A U.S. military statement said war planes destroyed two terrorists hideouts used by the al-Zarqawi network. Army sources say gunmen were spotted outside the buildings just before the raid.

But the rescuers say these corpses wrapped in blankets are a mother, father, and four children. So far that has been impossible to independently verify.

What did these families and children do to be killed? Was Abu Musab al-Zarqaei in there eating with them? This is unacceptable, he says.

An Army spokesman couldn't confirm reports of civilian casualties. In Baghdad, the wait went on for news of kidnapped aid worker Margaret Hassan, a dual British-Iraqi citizen. CARE International, Hassan's organization, said it was suspending all its aid projects in Iraq for the time being.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): The kidnapping happened when my wife arrived at her work. Two cars intercepted her from front and back. They attacked her car and pulled out the driver and a companion. Then they took the car and drove away to an unknown location.

PENHAUL: No demands, either political or financial, have been made so far. Even before this kidnapping, most aid organizations pulled out because of safety concerns. Those that remain have been taking a very low profile.

Karl Penhaul, CNN, Baghdad. .

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: A U.S. Army reservist pleaded guilty today in that Iraqi prisoner abuse scandal which sent shockwaves around the world. He could face up to 11 years in prison.

Let's go live to our senior Pentagon correspodent, Jamie McIntyre -- Jamie.

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SR. PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, while Staff Sergeant Frederick pleaded guilty to abusing Iraqi at Abu Ghraib, he also a military court outside Baghdad that the humiliation and abuse was for, quote, "military intelligence purposes."

During a November 4, 2003 incident, Frederick admitted that he helped place wires on the detainees hands and told him he would be electrocuted if he fell off the box. In another incident, November 8, also documented in a photograph, Frederick admitted joining other soldiers in jumping on a pile of seven detainees accused of rioting.

He said at one point he hit one detainee in the chest so hard that he required medical attention. All together, Staff Sergeant Frederick, who is a military policeman, admitted to eight counts of assault, committing an indecent act, conspiracy, maltreatment of detainees, and dereliction of duty.

And although he is a corrections officer in civilian life, Frederick said he received no training in the handling of prisoners and blamed his chain of command, in part.

He is expected to be sentenced tomorrow and could get up to 11 years -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Jamie McIntyre, thanks very much.

A desperate search for survivors after that firey crash of a commuter plane. We're on the scene with details.

And life in prison with Martha Stewart. Fellow inmates beginning to tell the inside story. We'll share it with you later.

A New York courtroom becomes the real "no spin zone." Will Bill O'Reilly and his accuser face off? Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: At least eight people died in the crash of that commuter plane near Kirksville, Missouri. But there are at least two survivors. And with five people still missing, there is some hope that number could grow. Jeff Lea of CNN affiliate KMOV is there.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEFF LEA, KMOV CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Northeast Regional Medical Center's Dr. Charles Zimman (ph) coordinated the trauma care for the two plane crash survivors.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We see car accidents with worse injuries come in here every week and this is truly a miracle.

LEA: Dr. Zimman says he talked with the survivors as they treated their injuries. A 44-year-old woman suffered a fractured arm and first, second,and third-degree burns over 8 percent of her body. The man, in his late 60s, suffered a fractured left hip and a fractured lumbar spine. And the victims told him how they got out alive.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They're just going down, all of a sudden they says they knew they knew they were hitting trees. And then they just saw an opening and felt heat and they both jumped out an opening of the fuselage and he crawled approximately 20 feet away from the plane. I understand she was up walking around waiting for the ambulance and actually waved down an ambulance and then walked back to the wreckage.

LEA: There is an amazing twist to this story. Dr. Zimman says he knew his male patient. He was once his instructor of anatomy at the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine. He was retired and well known at the hospital.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's a very nice guy. It was pretty hard. There wasn't a dry eye in the entire hospital last night. (END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: That report from Jeff Lea of CNN affiliate KMOV.

Sidelined by surgery, a political powerhouse poised to start stumping again. The former president, Bill Clinton putting his star power to work in the days ahead. We'll have details.

And 13 days to go. Why is this election already in the hands of lawyers? Is it?

Plus, Bill O'Reilly versus his former associate producer. The legal teams of the accused and the accuser will come face to face Friday. We'll have a full report. That's coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back. Getting back on the stump, the former president Bill Clinton will soon go to bat for the Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry. Details coming up.

First, a quick check of some other stories now in the news.

The small island nation of Fiji is the first country to answer the United Nations' call for protection in Iraq. Fiji says it will send 130 troops to Baghdad to provide security for U.N. officials and facilities. The troops are expected to arrive next month.

U.S. officials now say information from an informant that there might be a terror attack on election day is, quote, "not credible." However, one official says there's no reason for less concern because al Qaeda is very interested in attacking the United States this year.

Despite a flu vaccine shortage, some inmates in federal and state prisons will be getting their flu shots. Prison officials say the inmates are high risk, either 65 and older or suffering from a chronic medical condition.

In New York, the rock singer Courtney Love pleaded guilty to a disorderly conduct charge. She was accused of hitting a man with a microphone stand in a nightclub last March. A judge ordered Love to join a drug treatment program and pay the man more than $2,000 for medical bills. Keeping you informed, CNN, the most trusted name in news.

He could prove to be the Kerry campaign's not so secret weapon in the neck and neck campaign. Former president Bill Clinton, sidelined by surgery, is about to come to the aid of his fellow Democrat.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(voice-over): When it comes to political star power, he's at the top of the list. Former President Bill Clinton, sidelined by surgery, is about to come to the aid of his fellow Democrat.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) BLITZER (voice-over): When it comes to political star power, he is at the top of the list, former President and consummate campaigner Bill Clinton. As the race between George Bush and John Kerry grew hotter and closer over the last six weeks, Clinton was stuck at home in Chappaqua, New York, recovering from quadruple bypass surgery.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He looks a lot better than he did a few weeks ago.

BLITZER: But now Clinton is poised to start stumping for Kerry, who gave the first indication himself yesterday in Pennsylvania.

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I think it's possible in the next days, former President Clinton may be here working. We're all working. And I am not going to leave any vote unasked for.

BLITZER: Today, an aide confirmed to CNN that Mr. Clinton will appear with Kerry at a campaign event Monday in Philadelphia. No word from Clinton himself, who the aides said was tucked away for the day resting at home.

News of the joint campaign appearance comes on the same day a new fund-raising letter from Clinton went out to would-be Democratic donors full of themes Clinton may use on the stump, including nothing less than the future of our country is at stake, so much riding on the outcome of this election, and America's future is on the ballot this year.

Clinton was almost persona non grata during the 2000 campaign, as Al Gore tried to distance himself from his boss' troubled second term, which was dominated by the Monica Lewinsky scandal and his impeachment. Did distancing Clinton hurt Gore?

WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST: Gore did as well as he did, he carried the popular vote because Clinton's record was so strong. But, in the end, voters, after all the trauma of the Clinton years, wanted a change.

BLITZER: Since then, the country has gone through a devastating terror attack, two wars and a recession, leaving many Democrats nostalgic for the boom years of the Clinton administration. But can the former president give John Kerry the edge he needs to pull ahead in one of the tightest races in recent memory?

SCHNEIDER: Bill Clinton gets Democratic juices flowing. Democrats love Bill Clinton. So he's a guy you want to use with base Democratic voters, with minorities, with liberals, to get those people to the polls.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: John Kerry's wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, is apologizing for a comment she made about the first lady Laura Bush's job experience. In an interview with "USA Today," Heinz Kerry asked how she would be different from Mrs. Bush as first lady. As part of a lengthy response, she said she didn't know if the first lady has ever had what in her words a real job. She went on to say she sees her experiences and age as a benefit. She's 66. The first lady is 57. Today, Heinz Kerry issued a statement saying she's sincerely sorry for not remembering that the first lady spent 10 years as a schoolteacher and a librarian.

She added -- and I'm quoting now -- "There couldn't be a more important job than teaching our children."

The Bush camp jump indeed with this response on CNN's "INSIDE POLITICS."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KAREN HUGHES, BUSH-CHENEY CAMPAIGN ADVISER: Well, I think it's very nice that she apologized. But, in some ways, the apology almost made the comment worse, because she seems to have forgotten that being a mother is a real job.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: This exchange, of course, is just the latest example of the fireworks in the last days of the fight for the White House.

One more footnote to the whole controversy of the flu vaccine. We have now been told by the White House that the vice president, Dick Cheney, has received a flu shot. Cheney of course has a history of heart disease. He was inoculated at the advice of his doctor, according to a spokeswoman. Treasury Secretary John Snow, who is 65 years old, also has received a flu shot.

As you know by now, the president says he will not receive one. Yesterday, Tommy Thompson, the secretary of health and human services, says he won't receive one either because he is under 65 years old.

Meanwhile, both sides are bracing for a repeat of 2000, setting up dream teams ready to wage legal warfare in the event of another Florida-like fiasco.

Here to talk about that, two guests, the former Clinton White House counsel Jack Quinn, and C. Boyden Gray, the former White House counsel under the first President Bush.

Gentlemen, thanks so much for joining us.

First of all, I'll start with you, Boyden Gray. Do you think it's likely there is going to be another legal fiasco this time around?

C. BOYDEN GRAY, FORMER WHITE HOUSE COUNSEL: Well, certainly, people think there is a substantial chance of that. I worry about it. The election is so close, right now anyway, it looks. And it wouldn't take much to ignite the kind of fracas we had four years ago. That would be a terrible thing, in my opinion. I don't think lawyers should be deciding and judges should be deciding elections.

(CROSSTALK)

BLITZER: We're going to get to some specific legal issues in a moment.

Do you agree?

JACK QUINN, FORMER WHITE HOUSE COUNSEL: Absolutely.

The American people feel better about their democracy, their elections and their country if they feel that real people are casting real ballots, rather than having lawyers and judges decide the outcome of these elections.

BLITZER: So, assuming that the legal dream teams are already being established, Boyden Gray, where do you think the fight is going to take place and on what issues, assuming it is a very, very close election?

GRAY: Well, you won't really know. But it will be wherever the election is close. It could be Ohio. It could be Florida. It could be Wisconsin, or wherever the electoral votes are very closely contested.

And it will be on alleged voter suppression. It will be on something that will be like the butterfly ballot. We don't know. I don't know.

BLITZER: If the touch-screen votes, the computerized votes, for example, if there is some sort of a technical glitch, that's a great opportunity for lawyers to step in.

(CROSSTALK)

GRAY: That's correct.

BLITZER: What do you think?

QUINN: Yes, 74 percent of the American people are going to use the same kind of voting machines they used in the year 2000.

BLITZER: The punch cards, you mean?

QUINN: Punch cards, machines that sometimes don't register votes accurately. And, as Boyden Gray says -- I agree with him here, too -- if you have a state, a critical state, that's razor thin in the majority from one candidate or the other, it makes that state ripe for lawyers' work.

BLITZER: Jack, a lot of people -- you are a good Democrat -- think the Republicans legally last time around in Florida were much better prepared for the legal battle in Florida than the Democrats were. If you assume that's the case, have the Democrats learned their lesson? QUINN: I think the Democrats have learned their lesson. I would also say that the Republican -- and I know Boyden will disagree with this -- had the courts on their side, had Republican judges, particularly on the Supreme Court.

(CROSSTALK)

BLITZER: The U.S. Supreme Court.

QUINN: Right.

BLITZER: Although the Florida Supreme Court had a little different take on it.

QUINN: That's true.

But, look, we all hope it never gets to this. We hope that -- I certainly hope that one way or another this election is so clear that the army of lawyers getting ready to fight fights over legal issues in this campaign are unnecessary. We hope they're like life insurance. You've got it there just in case. But, hopefully, you won't die and need it.

BLITZER: You agree?

GRAY: I agree. I think the Florida Supreme Court made some very key rulings that dictated the outcome, to make the point I'm trying to, that you have these things cancel each other out.

And, sure, there may have been a glitch in some polling place in some state in some precinct. But the chances are, it was canceled out by a glitch on the other side in another polling place. And you should just let the system work and not try to go in and pick at a particular problem that may be true, but it's likely to be counteracted.

QUINN: Interestingly or perhaps even ironically, one of the things that may give rise to an awful lot of legal challenges is some of the steps that Congress took to try to make things better.

They required provisional voting, so that if you move from one place to another, people who are ultimately deemed eligible to vote can vote, even though on Election Day their names may not appear on the rolls. That whole process may be the hanging chad.

BLITZER: Well, this is a sensitive issue, because in Ohio, for example, and Florida, there have been two different court rulings already. If you have a provisional ballot, meaning you're going to vote, but you do it and not in your precinct, it might not be valid, at least in Florida, as opposed to Ohio, for example, where they're being a little bit more generous and saying, you know what? You didn't vote in the right precinct. But at least you voted and you're a United States citizen and you're eligible.

GRAY: Well, that's one of the problems. Are you in the right precinct? Do you have an I.D.? The courts are sort of splitting both ways on that, as I understand it. Are you a prisoner? Can you vote if you are a felon? And there will be questions about absentee ballot that may not come in, in time. I think in one state -- I've heard that in one state they will accept absentee ballots up until November 10.

BLITZER: Here is a fundamental question a lot of people are asking. And we'll wrap it up on this. If it comes down to the United States Supreme Court once again, can we assume that the president of the United States will be reelected?

Jack.

QUINN: No. I don't want to cast that aspersion on the United States Supreme Court.

BLITZER: So, in other words, the politics, even you, a good Democrat, wouldn't necessarily think that.

QUINN: I have to trust and pray that they will do what is in the interest of this nation and do the right thing.

GRAY: Yes, I think that's an aspersion on the court. I think, as the journalists, the media determined later, if they had had the full recount and had all the time in the world to do it, Bush would have won.

I think, this time around, let's hope and pray that there is enough discipline on the part of everybody that we'll have a nominee, an elected candidate on the morning of Wednesday.

BLITZER: C. Boyden Gray, on that note, let's hope and pray.

(LAUGHTER)

BLITZER: Thanks very much.

Jack Quinn, thanks to you as well.

(CROSSTALK)

QUINN: Thank you.

BLITZER: Did President Bush really expect the United States to win the war in Iraq without sustaining any casualties? Bush supporter Pat Robertson raises new questions during a candid conversation. And now the White House is responding.

Life inside Camp Cupcake. We'll bring you details of Martha Stewart's first days behind prison walls.

And later, is the curse alive? Hopeful Bostonians hoping not. Their struggle for the championship ahead -- all that coming up.

First, though, a quick look at some other news making headlines around the world.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): Lebanon's prime minister resigned today and said he will not form a new government. The move comes after the Constitution was changed last month to allow Lebanon's Syrian-backed president to remain in office. At the same time, the U.N. Security Council is again demanding that Syria pull its 14,000 troops out of Lebanon.

Is it art? Britain's most prestigious art award, the Turner Prize, is the center of controversy. A digital construction of Osama bin Laden's former home in Afghanistan is a key part of a collection that's a leading contender. But its film had to be withdrawn because it focuses on a former Afghan commander who is on trial in London on charges of hostage taking and torture.

Deadly storm. A powerful typhoon battered southern and central Japan, killing more than a dozen people. It is the second typhoon to hit Japan in two weeks.

And that's our look around the world.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: President Bush's decision to go to war in Iraq is getting new scrutiny today after a surprising assertion by one of his strongest supporters.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): President Bush says he weighed all the evidence before going to war in Iraq.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Look, I understand the serious consequences of committing our troops into harm's way. It's the hardest decision a president makes.

BLITZER: Critics have argued that the president never understood the full consequences of going to war. And now an assertion by a prominent Bush supporter, Christian Coalition founder Pat Robertson, is raising new questions. Robertson told CNN's Paula Zahn he had a conversation with the president before the war.

PAT ROBERTSON, AUTHOR, "COURTING DISASTER": I had deep misgivings about this war, deep misgivings. And I was trying to say, Mr. President, you better prepare the American people for casualties.

Oh, no, we're not going to have any casualties.

BLITZER: Kerry campaign adviser Mike McCurry reaction to Robertson's statement. He said -- quote -- "We believe President Bush should get the benefit of the doubt, but he needs to come forward and answer a very simple question: Is Pat Robertson telling the truth when he said you didn't think there'd be any casualties or is Pat Robertson lying?" -- unquote. Many observers say the president went to war with faulty assumptions. "The New York Times"' chief military correspondent, Michael Gordon, has spent a lot of time embedded with U.S. forces in Iraq.

MICHAEL GORDON, "THE NEW YORK TIMES": But when the Bush administration went in, it had what I would consider to be some very optimistic and, really, unrealistic set of expectation about what would unfold in Iraq.

BLITZER: Gordon says even after the initial phase of fighting, the faulty assumptions continued, including overly hopeful estimates of when troop withdrawals could begin.

GORDON: The plan that General Franks brought on April 16, now, this is really less than two weeks after American forces entered Baghdad, was to go down to a division-plus by September 2003 or some 30,000 troops. It seems fanciful now, but that was the goal at the time.

BLITZER: Pentagon sources tell CNN there were hopes troop withdrawals could begin quickly, but many military officials always had their doubts, even before the insurgency started gathering momentum.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: And late today, the White House released a statement confirming that President Bush met with Pat Robertson before the Iraq war, but flatly denying that the president ever said he expected no casualties. Scott McClellan, the White House press secretary, said this: "The president never made such a comment."

It's he said/she said now. Fox News host Bill O'Reilly's attorney set to face off with his accuser's attorney in court. We have new details.

Also, Martha Stewart's first weeks in prison. Are inmates warming up to the gourmet guru? Learn new details of her experiences inside what they call Camp Cupcake.

And more on last night's historic baseball game that moved the Boston Red Sox one step closer to the playoffs and pushed the New York Yankees one step away. We'll see what happens tonight.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Word is leaking out of the federal women's prison in Alderson, West Virginia, about its most famous inmate, Martha Stewart.

CNN's Deborah Feyerick, joining us now live from New York, she has got some details -- Deborah.

DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, look, Martha Stewart is getting along OK inside Alderson Federal Prison Camp. She confirms it on her Web site, MarthaTalks.com, saying everyone is nice and that she has adjusted.

In fact, the inmates seem to have adjusted to her as well. On another Web site, PrisonTalkOnline, an Internet user who goes by the name Still Mommy's Girl says her mother recently got out of Alderson prison and that a friend told her Stewart is very, very cool and a sweet, nice person, that Stewart walks the track with the other inmates, spends time in the library typing in her journal, eats in the chow hall and complains about the food, just like the rest of the inmates.

The writer says Stewart has made friends and that everyone loves her there and follows her around. The prison Web site is used by former inmates who stay in touch with women on the inside. A prison official would not confirm reports on that prison Web site that Stewart offered to provide her name brand sheets to her prison pals. The official would say it is a rumor that Stewart was picking crab apples to cook.

Stewart was busy last week meeting with her appeals lawyer. He has said there are at least five major issues, including juror misconduct, that could be grounds to reverse Stewart's conviction. Those appeal papers are expected to be filed by tonight's midnight deadline -- Wolf.

BLITZER: All right, Deborah Feyerick, thanks very much.

Sticking in New York, the lawsuit filed by Fox News host Bill O'Reilly against a former employee accusing him of sexual harassment is about to get its first court hearing.

For more on that, let's go back to New York once again, CNN's Alina Cho standing by -- Alina.

ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, this case is indeed moving forward. A hearing will be held on Friday morning in Nassau County, New York. Now, that's on Long Island, where Bill O'Reilly lives.

Both O'Reilly's and Andrea Mackris' attorneys will be there. O'Reilly and Mackris themselves are not expected to attend. Now, this marks the first time the two sides will face off in court. The hearing will deal, as you mentioned, with the extortion case O'Reilly and Fox have filed against Mackris. A spokesman for the court told CNN that Mackris' legal team has been ordered to keep any recorded conversations between Mackris and O'Reilly, if they exist, but for now will not be required to produce them.

The O'Reilly team has made an earlier request for any recordings. Andrea Mackris was an associate producer for "The O'Reilly Factor," although she says she was told not to return to work. Earlier this month, she filed a sexual harassment suit accusing the Fox News star of creating a sexually hostile work environment. Mackris says O'Reilly made sexual lewd comments to her and pressured her to engage in phone sex.

O'Reilly and Fox have filed their own lawsuit accusing Mackris and her attorney of attempted extortion, which they have denied. Now, O'Reilly's attorney appearing on ABC this morning said -- quote -- "Put up or shut up." On his radio show recently, O'Reilly himself said -- quote -- "This is my fault. I was stupid. And I'm not a victim, but I can't allow certain things to happen."

And, finally, Wolf, according to her lawyer's office, Andrea Mackris is said to be spending time with her family in Manhattan -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Alina Cho reporting for us from Manhattan as well -- thank you, Alina, very much.

Is the curse of the Bambino finally over? Coming up, our picture of the day. Some Boston Red Sox fans certainly hope so.

And our Web question of the day is this: Should members and employees of the U.S. Congress get flu shots despite the vaccine shortage? The results for you when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Here's how you're weighing in on our Web question of the day: Should members and employees of Congress get flu shots despite the vaccine shortage? Fourteen percent of you say yes; 86 percent of you say no. Remember, though, this is not a scientific poll.

Finally, what may be the most intense rivalry in U.S. pro sports history heading for its latest climax tonight, when the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox play the seventh and final game of the American League Championship Series. The Red Sox are hoping to make it to the World Series for the first time since 1986. And their very hopeful fans are our picture of the day.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You go to a play, you basically know what's going to happen. You go to a movie, you can usually figure it out in the first 10 minutes. You don't know what's going to happen tonight. This is theater. It's wonderful.

ANNOUNCER: ... being aggressive.

(APPLAUSE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think they got it. I think they got it. After the run they've been on, nobody has done that before, this is the year.

ANNOUNCER: That's down the left field line, big trouble. Matsui on the run.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So they're going to go all the way?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You're damn right they are. I've come all the way from England to see this. They're going to all the way.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And what are you saying today?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Please, God!

UNIDENTIFIED MALES: Let's go Red Sox.

UNIDENTIFIED MALES: Who's your Papi? Who's your Papi?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: David Ortiz is like Jesus. He's with you when you need him. He puts you on his back and carries you!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: By game time, it's going to be extraordinarily exciting in here. And when we win, it's going to be even more exciting.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: I'm excited. I suppose everyone is excited by now.

A reminder, we're on weekdays, 5:00 p.m. Eastern, as well as noon Eastern. Thanks very much for joining us.

"LOU DOBBS TONIGHT" starts right now.

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