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Hugo Chavez Remains the President of Venezuela; Wisconsin Local News Anchor Responds Viewer's Mail on Air

Aired October 07, 2012 - 22:00   ET

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

DON LEMON, CNN HOST: Tonight on CNN, still casting their votes. Venezuelans flooding to the polls in the strongest challenge yet to the 13-year rule of President Hugo Chavez.

A frightening and sad scene from Syria. A young boy trying to get away from a sniper, he doesn't make it.

The president's bad debate night. His defenders doing what he didn't do on the debate stage. But are they making him look worse or with all the excuses, it's my talking point segment tonight.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And lift off of the rocket - Lift off of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

LEMON: Going up, the first commercial space rocket heads to the international space station. And coming down, a daredevil about to free fall from space and off to war.

A mother, father and son deploy to Afghanistan.

Hello, everyone. I am Don Lemon. And thanks for joining us. We are on the CNN NEWSROOM. We will get you up to speed right now.

President Obama on the West Coast tonight attending a few fund-raising events in Los Angeles. One of those L.A. fundraisers was a private event, no news cameras allowed. Another is an A-list concert with Stevie Wonder, Katy Perry, and Jon Bon Jovi, and Bill Clinton of course. More details and a live report in just a minute from Los Angeles.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Four, three, two, one -- and liftoff. Lift off from the space of the SpceX Falcon 9 rocket launch.

LEMON: That right there marking a new era in space flight, the first commercial flight into space launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida bound for the international space station. NASA has stepped aside signing SpaceX to a $1.6 billion contract to ship cargo to the ISS, International Space Station. My report from Florida, 20 minutes to wait here.

And meningitis outbreak in the U.S. has grown by one-third in just 24 hours. The CDC is confirming 91 cases of fungal meningitis in nine states including seven deaths. Twenty seven cases since yesterday. Nearly half of the new cases in Michigan. Meningitis has been linked to contaminated steroid injections often used to ease back and neck pain. The company that distributed the tainted steroids issued a voluntary recall for all of its products.

It's after 9:00 at night in Venezuela where most of the country's voting places are still open right now. President's Election Day and the polls will stay open as long as people are waiting in line to vote. Hugo Chavez is trying to win another term as Venezuela's president. He has been in charge for 13 years there. Live in Caracas coming right up.

And now to some very disturbing video from the Syrian war. Some viewers, particularly children, may want to look away. Here it is.

(VIDEO CLIP PLAYING)

LEMON: We are told this person that you see running is a Syrian boy, and that he was hit by sniper fire in Aleppo. CNN cannot independently confirm the video's authenticity.

Another amateur video you see it here is said to show a government aircraft going in a Damascus suburb. Across Syria, opposition activists say at least 100 people were killed today.

An investigation under way tonight at the University of South Alabama following the shooting death of this student, 18-year-old Gilbert Collar. A campus police officer shot and killed Collar after he says the freshman showed up at the campus police station naked and acting erratically. Well, Mobile country deputies have also stepped in to help in this investigation.

Honda recalling more than 260,000 CR-Vs because the power window switch could cause a fire. We are talking about the models 2002 to 2006. Switch could catch fire when it's hit even if the car is off. Honda says four fires have been reported, but no crashes or injuries so far. Honda dealers will repair or replace the switch for you.

President Barack Obama surrounded by rockers and singers and A-list Hollywood types right now. He is in California hoping to leave there in a couple days with a few million more dollars in his campaign fund. He just spoke to a concert crowd in Los Angeles.

And let's get out there to CNN's Dan Lothian. I want to talk to him about what is going on.

So Dan, campaign sources say they hope to drum up nearly $10 million over the next two days. What is the strategy? Is he arming up to get working in the battleground states here?

DAN LOTHIAN, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: The strategy really is all about the battleground states, Don. Just take a look at where the president has been traveling over the next several months. HE has made many trips to Colorado, to Florida where he will be headed later in the week. He has spent a lot of time spent in Virginia, and of course, we can't forget about Ohio. The president was just there last Friday. He returns again after leaving from the West Coast again.

So, that's the strategy. A lot of money, a lot of time being spent in these key battleground states. In fact, if you watch television in those states, just about every few minutes you will see one of the campaign ads either from the president or from his GOP opponent, Mitt Romney. They believe if you can hang on or win these key battleground states that's a road to victory in the upcoming election, Don.

LEMON: And the president got some laughs speaking to a friendly crowd. What did he say about the debate?

LOTHIAN: That's right. Well you know, first of all, the president started off by talking about what he said where his accomplishments, talking about foreign policy and winding down or ending the war in Iraq, winding down the war in Afghanistan, talk about healthcare, reform about the auto bailout, but then, he turned his focus to Mitt Romney, and of course, one thing that has been coming up now on the trail since the debate, Big Bird.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: When asked what he would actually to do to cut spending, he said he would go after public television. So, for all you moms and kids out there, don't worry, somebody is finally cracking down on Big Bird. Cracking down on him. Elmo's made a run for the border. Governor Romney plans to let Wall Street run wild again, but he is bringing the hammer down on Sesame Street.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: So Dan, I don't know --

LOTHIAN: The president also poked fun at his own lackluster debate performance. He was talking about all those performances that you listed at the top of your show. how they perform flawlessly night after night and he says that's not something he can say about himself.

LEMON: Yes. Big Bird, the center of attention right now. Big Bird is all over the place.

The president has more events planned in California, but all are fundraisers, right?

LOTHIAN: Yes, the majority. He does have one unveiling a national monument in here in northern California, actually he will do that tomorrow. But the bulk of the most important focus of the trip is all about fund-raising. As you pointed out, almost $10 million, $9.45 million to be exact. This is money, again, that this campaign believes they need to be competitive in the battleground states.

LEMON: All right Dan Lothian, thank you very much.

The president's challenger was hard at work today, too. Republican voters in Fort St. Louis, Florida, turning out in big numbers today for their candidate, Mitt Romney. It's his second straight day up and down the critical swing state. Today, he pointed again to one of the key differences between his and President Obama's plan.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) MITT ROMNEY, (R) PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: If he is re-elected, he will install Obamacare. And with it your premiums will go up an extra $2500 above of what they already are in your current health care plan, that's according to the Congressional Budget Office.

My plan is that I will finally get control of the excessive costs in health care by repealing and replacing Obamacare with real reforms.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: OK. Let's get to another presidential election. This one in south America, and Election Day is today. Venezuela, where that man you about to see -- there he is. President Hugo Chavez has been in power for 13 years now. That's job is voting today. And Barack is trying for another term.

There is no limit to the number of terms a president can serve there. Chavez himself made that rule. But analysts say if anybody can unseat this president, it's the man facing him today. A 40-year-old governor named Henrique Capriles.

So, let's get live to Caracas now. CNN's Paula Newton is there.

So, Paula, exactly 9:00 p.m., polls were scheduled to close hours ago, but they are still open. What is going on?

PAULA NEWTON, CNN INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: A few are still open. And if you are in any polling station anywhere in this country today you would know the lineups, Don, were huge. The turnout was really on massive, it could be approaching 80 percent.

For that reason, the electoral commission stayed true to word and they continued to have the polls open. We are not sure if it will make a difference, though. We are getting word that perhaps, they reached critical mass. That means about 85 to 90 percent of the votes are counted. And we do expect results hopefully within the next hour or so - Don.

LEMON: What has energized voters so much? They are so eager to stay at polling places? This late and waiting in lines, really long lines?

NEWTON: Well traditionally, Venezuela does have high turnouts, but beyond that, beyond that, this is one of the closest and most, you know, really contested elections in Venezuelan history.

And this young guy, 40-years-old, he is always compared to the David and goliath thing, and then you have Hugo Chavez, the entire apparatus of the government at his finger tips, Don, he has thrown everything at the campaign, even the kitchen sink literally, giving homes, refrigerators, microwaves, doing what he can to prove that look, I brought many of the poor out of poverty, and I will continue to do that if I get another six-year-term.

A lot of people are energized at polls and it didn't matter what side they were voting. They were happy to be there even if somehow they have to wait three, four, five hours. LEMON: Yes. And the results, we won't know, probably until overnight or ever longer?

NEWTON: That's right. I mean, this is going on right now. We are awaiting a new announcement from the electoral commission, but it is -- most people say it will be a close election, so we will just have to wait to see how close it really is, and if we can get results sooner, or if it's going to be a long night.

LEMON: Yes, it is going to be interesting to see who wins and what happens if Hugo Chavez doesn't. That's an interesting question.

Thank you Paula Newton. Appreciate it.

And right here in the U.S., in just four days, the first vice presidential candidate debate. Their job, as one strategist put it, do no harm. More on that ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Well, it has been four days since the first presidential debate. Four days of analysis, analysts breaking it down, practically word for word. And after all that talk consensus on both side remains, let's be honest, it was a night President Obama probably wishes he could have had back.

Earlier I spoke with CNN contributor's Lz Granderson and Ana Navarro. And many fellow Democrats felt Mr. Romney bent the truth in the debate but was never called out and I asked Lz if he thought the moderator that bunked all that part of his responsibility or was it the president.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LZ GRANDERSON, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: I think the moderator's job to also make sure that the things that are being said on stage is congruent with this that has been said in the past. That is to be call the person a liar or have the background information to present and say, but wait a minute, this is what you said on this day. So, how --

(CROSSTALK)

LEMON: Yes. If he has backed it up about what someone said, but it's up to the president to defend himself?

GRANDERSON: Absolutely. I am not trying to say the president should not take responsibility for his awful performance, he actually should have. But I think some of the criticism to the moderator is also justified.

LEMON: OK. Go ahead, Ana.

ANA NAVARRO, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: Don, what the liberals are doing is post debate spinning. It's whining. And there's no whining in politics. There was one person who should have challenged what Romney was saying and his name is President Barack Obama, and he did not do it. So, everybody else doing it afterwards just doesn't carry the same punch.

And I absolutely agree with Lz. It was a bit of both. It was a lot of both. President Obama was way off, and Mitt Romney was very much on his game. You know, I don't remember many debates where it's hard to think of a memorable gaffe or a memorable knockout blow, and yet there was a very visible mark that was an un-debatable victor of this debate, which was Mitt Romney. He did it just because for 90 sustained minutes, it was like he was debating a limp piece of spaghetti.

LEMON: Yes, it was like the chair from Clint Eastwood. But, listen. I want to go a little bit longer with the segment and alert the producers. I want to talk about more with these guys.

This is some honest talk. Let's talk about the job numbers. It could have come at a better time when the president where you consider his performance the other night. How big of a help is this, you know, below eight percent jobless rate, do you think?

I want to start with Ana to see what the Republicans think about that? How big of a help because Mitt Romney can no longer go, well, you know, the unemployment rate is above eight percent?

NAVARRO: Absolutely it was a help, and it was foul go for president Obama on Friday, the day you know, just after this disastrous debate. And let me tell you, Don, I am a Republican, but when it comes to unemployment numbers I am an American first, I route for the home team. I am not on the red team or blue team. I want our economy to strengthen and I want us to recover as a country. And I think the smartest thing any political person can do, any pundit can do is celebrate America doing better.

(CROSSTALK)

LEMON: I think you are absolutely right. So then, why are many Republicans saying these numbers were cooked when it shows you there is no interaction between the White House and the officer that decides he has numbers? So, why - that is - they are whining as well?

NAVARRO: Because we are30 days from an election, and everything is political. What they eat is political. What they wear is political. What they say is political.

GRANDERSON: I don't think that's true.

NAVARRO: But at the end of the day, after November 6th, we're all in this together.

NAVARRO: I don't think that's true.

LEMON: Listen. I we are going to move on. I understand. You don't it's true. I think they are whining because they don't want --

GRANDERSON: Let me just give one point. Can I give just one point across?

LEMON: Yes, go ahead. Go ahead.

GRANDERSON: And that is, we have had 27 or 28 consecutive months now are job growth. This is not a runoff. The Republicans have not been really happy about job growth for, like, two years.

LEMON: Right.

GRANDERSON: What we saw this past week was just a microcosm of what we have been seeing for the past two years.

LEMON: OK. Listen. I'm being told, you guys are going to be cut off because the satellites are going down in a about minute. So, let's get this out. Can we just show the pictures from the debate last night between Bill O'Reilly and Jon Stewart.

We all watched in the newsroom. And we were all saying this is great. Why aren't the real debates like this? Maybe it should be Bill O'Reilly or Jon Stewart moderating the debate instead of the people we had chosen, there should be more diversity in the people, maybe there should be younger people doing it. And again, more diverse has going to criticism about diverse moderator. What did you guys - this was great. The other debate was boring the other night - Ana.

NAVARRO: Well, Don, I am all with you with everything you just said except about the part of Jon Stewart and Bill O'Reilly being diverse. I am not sure they fall into a diverse category. But, you know, I thinks that they were entertaining, because they are entertainers.

LEMON: I got to go. But go ahead, Lz, real quick.

GRANDERSON: I was just going to say, and a lot of the conversation was honest, which a lot of the politicians can't afford to be, sadly.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: A presidential side debate between to self-staff political pundits rage last night on the live streaming webcast. Television host Jon Stewart and Bill O'Reilly, they faced off podium to podium. It was mostly for the entertainment value, but after all, they both have cable shows to promote.

But it was all for laughs. Both guys did speak with some substance, and a lot of critics say their debate was more watchable than the real thing?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What do you think is the fundamental problem with the political discourse?

BILL O'REILLY, HOST, THE O'REILLY FACTOR: The problem is this discourse heal is capitalism. That's the --

JON STEWART, HOST, THE DAILY SHOW: Say it again. O'REILLY: The problem with the discourse situation in America is capitalism, and listen and follow closely. You can make a lot of money by being an assassin. You go in and you are a hater, radio, cable, in print or whatever, and you get paid. And there are people that do that, and they go in, and they don't even believe half the stuff they say and they rip it up and they get paid a lot of money, and that is coarsened everything. They are phonies. And capitalism drives that. There are people, Americans who want to hear hate.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Good debate, and engaging.

Joe Biden versus Paul Ryan is next. The first and only vice presidential debate, just four days day's away.

Athena Jones previews now the Ryan-Biden matched up and looks at stand up moments of previous vice presidential debates.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ATHENA JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Who could forget that wink? Then Governor Sarah Palin winking during her 2008 debate with fellow vice presidential nominee Joe Biden, not just once but some half a dozen times. Then there's Senator Lloyd Bentsen's dig at Senator Dan Quayle in 1988.

LLYOD BENTSEN (D), 1988 ICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy.

(LAUGHTER)

JONES: Memorable moments, but hardly game-changers. While presidential debates can affect the outcome of an election, vice presidential debates, like this week's upcoming match-up between vice president Biden and his GOP challenger Paul Ryan, are a different animal.

MARGARET HOOVER, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: You need to be able to see that each vice presidential candidate has hit the standard of readiness; that they will be ready in an emergency in a national crisis to be able to step into the oval office and to take the reins of the presidency. But, beyond that, in terms of the actual debate itself, unless there is a stark killing or stark catching moment, it rarely changes the course of the debate.

JONES: Democratic strategist Donna Brazile says the first rule here is to do no harm.

DONNA BRAZILE, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: In terms of substance, try not to break any new ground. This is an audition for 2016. This is about 2012, and the top of the ticket.

JOE BIDEN, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I don't like a damn thing about him. JONES: Biden, who participated in more than 20 debates and forums in the 2008 campaign, said the contests are never easy.

BIDEN: What I've been doing mostly is quite frankly studying up on Congress Ryan's positions on issues. And Governor Romney has embraced at least everything is can see. I don't want to say anything in debate that is not completely accurate.

JONES: So, what are the candidates' biggest strength? Others will say for Ryan, is his ability to speak in details about policy issue. For Biden, his ease in talking about how national policies affect ordinary people.

Here's Congressman Ryan's take on Biden.

REP. PAUL RYAN (R), VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: He's fast on the cuff. He is witty guy. He knows who he is and has been doing this for 40 years. So, you're not going to rattle Joe Biden. Joe is very good on the attack. Joe is very good in trying to confuse the issues.

JONES: When it comes to advice for the candidates?

BRAZILE: Try to be comfortable in your skin, be rested. Look into the camera and smile from time to time.

JONES: And a little humor always helps.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I can see my wife, and I think she's thinking, gee, I wish you could go out in the private sector.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Allow me to try to help you do that, Joe.

(LAUGHTER)

JONES: Athena Jones, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: Good line there. Vice president Joe Biden and Congressman Paul Ryan get their turn to tackle the issues before the country on Thursday night. Our coverage of the vice presidential debate begins on 7:00 eastern here on CNN.

Commercial space flight is in the big leagues now as a spaceX rockets blast off into the heaverns. A successful launch. What this means to the future of space flight and the future of NASA.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Right now the first commercial flight is headed to the international space station, the space x rocket, blasted of just under two hours ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Three, tow, one, and liftoff. (END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Mission control called it a picture perfect launch.

John Zarrella has reaction to tonight's historic blastoff - John.

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Don, SpaceX officials are ecstatic and they have good reason to be. Their spacecraft is in orbit. And on its way to a rendezvous with the international space station. The dragon on top of the falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral without a hitch.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And Liftoff of the rocket.

ZARRELLA: Now, a lot of folks are saying what's the big deal? They have already done this. That's true. Back in may, they rendezvoused in space, but this was the first of real deal missions. That was a demonstration mission. This is carrying 1,000 pounds of cargo to the international space station, and the first of 12 flights contracted with NASA at a cost of $1.6 billion. We will have to wait a couple days of the rendezvous to make place. It will rendezvous with the international space station, and shortly thereafter it will be birthed to the station.

But first of 12 flights, contracted with NASA at a caused of 1.6 billion. Now, we are going to have to wait a couple of day for that rendezvous to take place. In the early morning hour, Wednesday morning the dragon space crop will run the move with the international space station and shortly thereafter it till brought to the station.

Right now though, everything is going perfectly and a dragon capsule on its way on this historic mission the international space station - Don.

LEMON: All right, thank you, John.

The president's bad debate night. His defenders doing what he did not do on the debate stage. But are they making it look worse for him with the excuses? It's tonight's no talking points.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: It's time now for no talking points.

Tonight, the president and the debate. You knew "SNL" would eat it up.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Excuse me, governor, Mr. President --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sorry, yes, yes, what's up?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. President, governor Romney has just said that he killed bin Laden. Would you care to respond?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, you two go ahead.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: It almost led MSNBC's left many hosts, Chris Matthews to have am on air meltdown.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRIS MATTHEWS, MSNBC HOST, HARDBALL: Where was Obama tonight? He went in there disarmed. He was like an hour and a half I think I can get through this thing and I don't have to look at this guy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: At least Matthews was honest. He did not immediately fall back on the excuses which have now become talking points for liberals.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID AXELROD, OBAMA CHIEF CAMPAIGN STRATEGIST: I think he was dishonest, absolutely.

ROBERT GIBBS, PRESIDENT OBAMA CAMPAIGN SENIOR ADVISOR: It was a masterful theatrical performance. It was fundamentally dishonest for the American people.

PAUL KRUGMAN, COLUMNIST, NEW YORK TIMES: This type of leaders, not only because they said some of this true. But something that his own campaign And it's something that his own campaign has admitted was not true and he can say it in front of 70 million people, and that's amazing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: What they are saying is you lie. Remember how those worlds went over when the Republicans said it? Just saying.

And the not feeling well excuse/talking point. Al Gore blamed Denver out the truth saying in part, when you go to 5,000 feet and you only have a few hours to adjust, I don't know, maybe.

Oh, and the bigger things on his mind defense/talking point.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GRANDERSON: The president was flat. I don't know what else was on his mind, it could have been his anniversary, it could have been what was going on in Syria and Turkey because he is busy running a country while he was trying to run free front for re-election.

JAMES CARVILLE, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: It just looked like to me he really did not want to be there. His mind wasn't on it and he didn't want to engage.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: So, just about Everything you heard there is a talking point, with maybe the exception of Chris Matthews and James Carville, and he said everybody has an off night and the president had one on Wednesday, and maybe, and I say maybe because all along the criticism from the right is that candidate Obama and President Obama is out of his league, not a real president, they've said that.

John Sununu on MSNBC. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN SUNUNU (R), FORMER NEW HAMPSHIRE GOVERNOR: What people saw last night I think is a president that revealed his incompetence, how lazy if the catch to his and he has no idea how serious the economic problems are and how he failed to even begin to address him.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: OK. It's obvious that he is a real president. He has been on the job now for almost four years and I don't think a person that keeps a schedule like he does is lazy. Detached, I am not so sure about that.

But, that's' what he can and if I may, Mr. President, some advice, and I would say the same thing to Mr. Romney had he performed during the debate, and with all due respect, if you want to show the right, left and in between that you are not, quote, out of your league, stop looking at your notes, and stop writing while somebody else is talking and do what my mom and many moms across the country told their children what they teach us, look people, no matter who they are, dead in the eye, even when you are tired, down or even intimidated, and stand up for yourself, because nobody else will.

That's my advice. Jon Stewart using an Obama support ad is much harsher.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEWART: Attempted to leave you with the wise words of a noted actor. This campaign viral video has been folded to mind in boxing 1900 times by some of you who are passionate followers. I believe it goes something like this.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Wait the (bleep) up!

(LAUGHTER)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: And that's tonight's no talking points.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Bottom of the hour. Let's look at your headlines right now.

President Barack Obama on the west coast tonight attending a few fund- raising events in Los Angeles, one of those L.A. fund-raising event is a private one. No news cameras allowed. Another is an A-list concert. Stevie wonder, Katy Perry, Bon Jovi and on the bill as well, Bill Clinton is expected to be too. The president is in San Francisco tomorrow.

That scary meningitis out brake continues to grow. Seven people have now died. The CDC confirms nine cases of fungal meningitis in nine states, 27 new cases just since yesterday. Nearly half of them in Michigan. The fungal meningitis is linked to contaminated steroid injections often used to ease back and neck pain. A company that distributed the tank of steroids issued a voluntary recall for all its products.

Late night in Venezuela, where most of the country's voting places are still open hours beyond the scheduled closing time. It's presidential election day there and people are still lined up waiting to vote to take president's election right now. President Hugo Chavez is trying to win another term. He has been on office for 13 years. Polling places in Venezuela will stay open until the last person wants to vote, votes.

(VIDEO CLIP PLAYING)

LEMON: Did you see that? Twenty five cars in a huge crash on the final lap in the Talladega's speed wave. Thankfully all the drivers walked away without injuries. Tony Stewart is taking the blame for tonight's massive crash, and Matt Kensett (ph) won tonight's race under cautioned after most of the contenders were eliminated in the crash.

Historic night in football to tell you about. Hey, breezy, as my mom would say. New Orleans' Faith quarterback Drew Brees, tap Johnny Knight. This is a touchdown streak. Brees threw a touchdown in his 48th consecutive touchdown tonight. Legendary knight has held the record for 52 years. Go Brees.

Now, to the big stories and the week head, from the White House to Wall Street. Our correspondents will tell you everything you need to know starting with the president's plans for the week.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LOTHIAN: I'm Dan Lothian. President Obama trying to bounce back from his debate performance hits the campaign trail this week making stops in California and the key battleground state of Ohio. He is also expected to visit other swing states in the week and continue to prepare for the next presidential debate.

PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN POLITICAL EDITOR: Hi. I'm Paul Steinhauser at the CNN political desk. Foreign policy will be in the spotlight tomorrow when Republican challenger Mitt Romney gives a speech at the Virginia military institute.

But the highlight of the week will be the vice presidential debate, vice president Joe Biden and Congressman Paul Ryan face-off Thursday in their only showdown in Danville, Kentucky.

POPPY HARLOW, CNN MONEY.COM CORRESPONDENT: I'm Poppy Harlow in New York. While wall street gears up for earning season this week, a lot of big companies reporting, including aluminum giant Alcoa, JPMorgan Chase, and Wells Fargo. The big question is, will we see the third earnings declined in the third quarter. Some fears that it is slow in China and persistent witness in Europe will finally take a toll on corporate earnings here in the U.S.

Also ahead this week, the latest inflation data and a look at consumer sentiment. We will track that in the business news on CNN money.

A.J. HAMMER, HLN HOST, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT: I'm "showbiz Tonight" A.J. Hammer. And here is what we are watching this week. We are speaking with Sophie Tweed Simmons. She is the daughter of kiss front man Gene Simmons and model, Shannon Tweed. But now, she is making a name for herself as a standout on the "X Factor."

Also, Kim Coles, Tamar Braxton and Tia Mowry, just a few of the big starts stopping by to talk hot topics with me on "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT."

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: This has just in the CNN. We told you about Hugo Chavez in a tight race with this opponent Henrique Capriles in Venezuela, and the polls are still open now in some places until the last person votes.

But here is what CNN is learning, that Hugo Chavez has been projected the winner again. Hugo Chaves 54 percent to Capriles' 44, almost 45 percent. So he has been -- he's been president there for 13 years and will go on to be president again. Hugo Chavez has been declared -- projected the winner in the Venezuelan election. We will continue to update you on this as we get one.

You probably saw the video this past week. The anchor who dressed down a viewer who e-mailed her about her weight. Well, she says he bullied her, but was it actually the opposite?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: A TV anchor went off after she got an e-mail from a guy telling her to lose weight. Jennifer Livingston set off a quite controversy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JENNIFER LIVINGSTON, WISCONSIN LOCAL NEWS ANCHOR: Now, I am a grown woman and luckily for me I have a very thick skin, literally as that e-mail pointed out and otherwise. And that man's words mean nothing to me --

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Well, her video has people talking. She says she was bullied, and I asked if public figures have a responsibility to look a certain way. First from Wendy.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DOCTOR WENDY WALSH, HUMAN BEHAVIOR SPECIALIST: I think you have a responsibility to be moral, to be ethical and to be honest. I think as far as your appearance is concerned I take exception for a viewer that called it a choice for obesity. No one chooses to be overweight. No one chooses to be obese. This is a very complicated cocktail of biology, environment and psychology, and it's not a behavioral choice.

LEMON: OK. Let me play devil's advocate. And said, no one chooses to be overweight?

EMME, MODEL: Absolutely not, or anorexic.

LEMON: Yes, OK. Buy, many people will say, well yes, you do, it is a choice. It's a lifestyle choice that you make and it's a food choice that you make.

Emme, you're very much in the public spotlight, what are your thoughts on this?

EMME: I definitely think that -- absolutely I agree with you, doctor, you cannot choose to be obese, you don't choose to be anorexic, it just seems to be that yes, people think you probably sit at home and you eat tons of food, you sit at home or don't eat anything at all, that's a choice.

LEMON: But not just in the news media, and let's take New Jersey governor Chris Christie as an example, a figure who has been publicly criticized about his figure and weight, and he is very overweight and he knows it and admits it and he addressed this issue time and again, and even discussing it with Piers Morgan.

CHRIS CHRISTIE (R), GOVERNOR, NEW JERSEY: The thing I feel most guilty about, my weight.

PIERS MORGAN, CNN TV HOST, PIERS MORGAN TONIGHT SHOW: Really?

CHRISTIE: Yes. Because I'm really struggling. Been struggling for a long time with it. And I know that it would be better for my kids. If I got it more under control. And so, I do feel a sense of guilt at times about that.

LEMON: OK. Isn't he saying the same thing as this guy is saying, that she's not a role model for young girls, and he is saying I'm not a role model for my kids.

WALSH: It's not about role model, it's about getting to be a parent and stay around for a long time, it's about health. But you know, something I want to say, Don, is that I don't think there's a population that's more discriminated against than people who are overweight. And kudos to this anchor's news director and general manager for keeping her on the air. Because you know they could have come up with "another reason" to let her go.

EMME: And they do. And do.

WALSH: Plenty of people -- they do. There are plenty of people who have the same psychological issues who may homed on, and you don't see them, addicted to internet porn, shooting heroin, addicted to gambling, doing all kinds of things to assuage their anxiety or depression but they don't have to walk it every day on television or the workplace. So, kudos to her.

LEMON: But, listen. Listen. I'm going to ask this question, who is the real bully here? Krause for writing the e-mail or Livingston for the four-minute on air response or neither of them?

Emme, I will start with you.

EMME: I really don't think neither, I think on one end Mr. Kraus is voicing his opinion. He might have too much time and he may have issues of his own.

WALSH: Well, I think calling it bullying is a little bit insane because we loosely use this term now because it's hip in our pop psych culture. The truth is these were two human beings communicating with each other and they each had a different method of communication. She had her television microphone and camera. These were two adults communicating opinions. The guy that wrote the e-mail has since apologized.

Hey, Don. Remember what we talked about last week? Sometimes when you feel something negative about somebody else, it's something you feel about yourself. So I'm wondering what this guy doesn't like about himself, as far as a role model is concerned. But this isn't bullying.

LEMON: And the guy who wrote the e-mail has since apologized.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: This is just in to CNN. Hugo Chaves has named the winner and Venezuela's presidential election. We can go live to Caracas, next. Don't go anywhere.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: All right, this is just in to CNN. You see Hugo Chavez voting this morning. I believe that was in Caracas.

Well, Hugo Chavez first selected president back in 1999 will serve another term. It's Election Day in Venezuela, and the news just announced by the election's council.

Paul Newton live now in Caracas. So Paula, when and how did the news come down? We just spoke moments ago, and now we didn't know and now we do.

NEWTON: We learned about 15 minutes ago, Don, on social media we could see that Chavez won, and we actually had sources inside the electoral commission, a total city. He had one -- 54 percent to 45 percent for the opposition. That is a much larger victory that It was not as close as people thought it might be. And we could not report it because of the media restrictions right now. I

But look at it behind me, Don. I mean, it's like the fourth of July out here, and I can tell you, this started more than a half an hour ago now and the fireworks just still going. And by any measure this is a crushing defeat for the opposition. As I was telling earlier, Don, They made a house to house battle for this vote, and there were many things to complain about. Hugo Chavez threw everything including the kitchen sink at this campaign. That is literal. He gave out new homes, new refrigerators, TV sets, cell phones, you name it. He used the proceeds from oil process on this country to do it. He has been on the nationalized campaign, and nationalized almost 1,000 businesses. Many say they will see more of this and in the long run, this will end up hurting the Venezuela economy more than it will help it, Don.

LEMON: Yes, I was going to ask about that. It is interesting when you say because of the media restriction in that country. And people are watching saying, you are broadcasting here. This show is simulcast around the world, more than 300 countries including Venezuela. So the rules apply for that. But what I think is interesting is an 80 percent participation rate, that is almost unheard of.

NEWTON: Well, yes, we'd like those kinds of numbers, we don't we Don?

LEMON: Yes.

NEWTON: Yes, it certainly speaks to the legitimacy of the process. Now, look. The Carter center came here, and they said this is going to be free, fair transparent election. One of the most automated system in the world won't be talking - were they are hanging Chad, Don. Is that we were talking about in Florida. None of that here.

And for that reason, both the opposition and the government said at the time that they were submit to whatever the results were. That's why you have so many people with confidence going to the polling stations today, Don.

But you know, we are going to move on, and tomorrow morning already, Don. And now the focus will hit squarely on Hugo Chavez's health. He said he is cured of cancer. I have seen him, Don. We saw him last night and he did not look well. And there's no way to confirm it at all, but anyone with cancer and kind of cancer he had, and he never disclosed what it was, you have to think, you know, will he get sick again? Or has he made this miraculous recovery? And that really is going to be the next risk here in Venezuela. Because there is no one waiting in the sidelines and that could really de- stabilize the country.

LEMON: We have to run, but we are going to continue to watches it. And by the way, the celebrations are going on and you can hear fireworks behind Paula.

Thank you, Paula. We will be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Can you imagine free falling from space. An Astrau-man One man is attempting to break the sound barrier by jumping from a balloon 23 miles above the earth. CNN's Brian Todd is following this story from Roswell, New Mexico -- Brian.

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Don, after five years of planning and a one-day delay for weather, it is finally about to happen. The stratus fear jump of dare devil feel its bomb guard from here in Roswell, New Mexico. This mission control right behind me, and red bull startle center here, the command center where this will be launched. The photo journalist, Mike Love, is going to show you the field where this mission will be launched. A giant balloon, 55- storeyshigh with the capsule attached is going to take Felix Baumgartner attached. It is going take feel Felix Baumgartner to the edge of space from this field.

It's going to take them three hours to get up to the edge of space, 122,000 feet above the surface of the earth. At that point, Felix Baumgartner steps out of the capsule, and will attempt to set two records. One, for the longest ever free fall and he will go about 117,000 feet and will open his parachute about 5,000 feet above the surface of the earth. That's the first record. And while he is doing that, he hopes to break a speed record for somebody traveling outside a spacecraft.

No one has ever gone up the speed of sound, broken the speed of sound, 690-plus miles an hour outside of a space vehicle. He is going to be, hopefully, the first person that will ever do that. He is going to be wearing nothing but a high pressure suit, a helmet and a parachute, and that's another record he will attempt to set.

This Felix Baumgartner, a daredevil for Austria, who has already a based jumped from PETRONAS Tower in Kuala Lumpur. He has already based jumped from the Christ the redeemer statue in Rio da Janeiro. This is his latest and grandest.

What is he plan to do after this? Well, he is pretty humble about that. His plans, from here he said he is going to back to being a helicopter pilot back in the state of Austria. That might be somewhere of a look down - Don.

LEMON: All right. Thank you, Brian.

You know, the jump was originally scheduled for tomorrow but it's postponed a day due to projected high winds.

Before we get out of here, we want to tell you, breaking news. Venezuela's president again, Hugo Chavez had announced just moments ago from the election commission.

Get "STARTING POINT" early starts tomorrow morning. I'm Don Lemon. See you next week.

Good night.