it is scary in the end. stay tuned. we'll tell you exactly what's going op. good morning. welcome to "early start." i'm john berman. >> i'm zoraida sambolin. 5:00 a.m. in the east. coming one a man who says he has been cured of hiv. dr. sanjay gupta talked to him. you'll hear about that later this hour. really remarkable. plus, brett favre couldn't stay retired after all. he's back in football taking a job you might not expect. we'll tell you all about it. stay tuned. you need to watch before he retires again. >> i think it's kind of exciting, actually. i wanted to ask you about that. we'll chat about it. first the latest presidential poll numbers are out this morning. they reveal president obama's ahead of mitt romney by six points. the brand-new nbc news/"wall street journal" poll shows obama at 49% to romney's 43%. that's a three percentage point increase from just last month. cnn's political director mark preston joins us now from washington, d.c. nice to have you with us this morning, mark. the poll shows the race is in a statistical dead heat. there are also bullet points that both candidates will find a bit concerning. can you share those details with us? >> sure, zoraida. i think we'll expect the horse race all the way up to november to stay this close. this is going to be one of those real, real tight presidential elections p. but, of course, there are certain bullet points that we focus on wn we're looking at these numbers. let's look at this number on the economy. the economy, issue number one in this election. what most voters will likely vote on come november. mitt romney has a six-point advantage over president obama right now when asked who has a better idea to improve the economy. very good news for the romney campaign up in boston when they see that number. however, out in chicago, you can see that the obama campaign can take solace in this number on likability. a 20-point gap, zoraida. president obama, 60% of americans like president obama while only 47% like romney. now, the reason why that's important for president obama and how you all tie it together regarding the economy, president obama has been making the argument that he needs another four years to turn around the economy and that he was handed a very tough hand to deal with. so that likability question could come into play. >> it's been playing a lot. repeatedly playing. this week the focus has been on foreign policy. romney's in london today, the first stop on his international tour. but before he left romney had this criticism about obama's approach to foreign policy. let's listen to that. >> the president's policies have made it harder to recover from the deepest recession in 70 years. exposed the military to cuts that no one can justify. compromised our national security secrets. [ applause ] and in dealings with other nations, he has given trust where it is not earned, insult where it was not deserved and apology where it is not due. >> mark, we all know that foreign policy does not poll high on the list of issues that are important to people's votes. but you wrote yesterday that it is, in fact, important. why is that? >> well, it is important. you're right. only a quarter of voters right now say that foreign policy is extremely important to their vote come november. but it's important for these reasons and these reasons alone. president obama can point to certain foreign policy decisions he has made, zoraida, including the killing of osama bin laden and ending the iraq war, two major accomplishments during his term. meanwhile, mitt romney as we just heard during his speech at the veterans of foreign wars is using foreign policy to criticize the white house, specifically criticize president obama on leaks from his administration as well as being critical of some of the remarks that president obama has made about our allies as well as these pending massive cuts to defense. you know, zoraida, probably the most important thing that came out of that speech yesterday was mitt romney's criticism of the leaks. and he used senator dianne feinstein's words, a california democrat who was critical of president obama's white house for the leaks. she has since recanted. it will be an issue all throughout today, perhaps for the next week. >> yeah. she was not happy about that. mark preston live in washington for us, thank you very much. now five minutes past the hour. taking a look at other news now, one lifetime in prison not enough for william balfour. jennifer hudson's former brother-in-law was sentenced yesterday for murdering the singer's mother, brother and 7-year-old nephew back in 2008. a chicago judge gave him three life sentences plus 120 years. prosecutors say bealfour committed the murders in a jealous fit of rage. in delivers the sentence the judge could barely contain his anger telling balfour, quote, your soul is as barren as dark space. we are following new twomts in the aurora movie theater massacre. there will be no cameras in the courtroom when the accused shooter faces formal charges, that's on monday. the judge granted a defense request to keep cameras in the courtroom for the appearance. so much was made of how he appeared on monday. meantime, the star of "the dark knight rises," batman himself, paid a visit to pay his respects. christian bale laid a bouquet of flowers and spent over two hours at the medical center of aurora and visited with police officers and those emergency room technicians who were on the scene after last friday's early morning mass shooting. warner brothers, the studio behind the new batman film has also made a donation to the victims and aurora. the studio didn't say how much it is giving. warner bro eer brothers is ownee warner, parent company of cnn. a woman named katie medley gave birth to a boy as her husband, caleb, a victim of the aurora sheet etheater shooting, the same hospital with a gunshot wound to the head. hugo jackson medley was born at 7:00 a.m. yesterday at the university of colorado hospital. caleb's brother spoke on behalf of the family. >> that's the way we describe it, as bittersweet. we were all looking forward to this. we were all excited about this. it is. it is a silver lining to a very dark cloud. but -- but we all know caleb. we know he's a fighter. we know he's not going to stay out of that child's life for any length of time. if he can avoid it. >> the face on that baby, such an amazing silver lining to the story. the medley family is said to be without health insurance and could face millions of dollars in medical bills. a fundraising website has been set up for the family at calebmedley.com. it's already raised more than $200,000. >> there seems to be a recuring theme. a lot of people do not have medical insurance. hopefully folks will be generous and kind. seven minutes past the hour here. syrian forces fighting back hard overnight to regain control of the country's largest city. helicopters and fighter jets attacking rebel targets. this is aleppo. we're getting reports thousands of government troops are being sent in. violent clashes across syria claimed at least 133 lives yesterday, 21 of them in aleppo. big news in entertainment. actor sherman hemsley who starred in "the jeffersons" has died. hemsley's turn as george jefferson made him famous. originally created for another landmark show, "all in the family." the spin-off became one of television's longest running and most successful sitcoms. no word on what caused his death at his home in el paso, texas. sherman hemsley, an indelible mark. he was 74. >> always wondered what was going to come out of his mouth. eight minutes past the hour. the senate votes this afternoon on competing plans to extend the bush era tax cuts. we keep on talking about this. the democratic plan would extend the cuts for couples making less than $250,000 a year. individuals making under $200,000. republicans want to extend the tax cuts for all taxpayers, including the wealthiest americans. neither proposal is expected to pass. >> so nothing will happen. at the end of the day, nothing changes. >> nothing changes. >> welcome to washington, everyone. you have to look at this video. because it looks like something sinister. see for yourself. surveillance video from a supermarket showing a man, it looks like a man putting a woman into the trunk of a car. coming up, we're going to tell you what police say is really happening in this video. [ female announcer ] imagine skin so healthy, it never gets dry again. can your moisturizer do that? [ female announcer ] dermatologist recommended aveeno has an oat formula, now proven to build a moisture reserve, so skin can replenish itself. that's healthy skin for life. only from aveeno. the wife. hey, babe. got the jetta. i wiped the floor with the guy! not really. i would've been fine with 0% for 36 months, but i demanded 60. no...i didn't do that. it was like taking candy from a baby. you're a grown man. alright, see you at home. [ male announcer ] the volkswagen autobahn for all event. we good? we're good. [ male announcer ] at 0% apr for 60 months, no one needs to know how easy it was to get your new volkswagen. that's the power of german engineering. to get your new volkswagen. this is new york state. we built the first railway, the first trade route to the west, the greatest empires. then, some said, we lost our edge. well today, there's a new new york state. one that's working to attract businesses and create jobs. a place where innovation meets determination... and businesses lead the rld. the new new york works for business. find out how it can work for yours at thenewny.com. to provide a better benefits package... oahhh! [ male announcer ] it made a big splash with the employees. [ duck yelling ] [ male announcer ] find out more at... [ duck ] aflac! [ male announcer ] ...forbusiness.com. ♪ ha ha! ♪ homicide of young people in america has an impact on all of us. how can we save these young people's lives? as a police chief, i have an opportunity to affect what happens in a major city. if you want to make a difference, you have to have the right education. university of phoenix opened the door. my name is james craig, i am committed to making a difference, and i am a phoenix. visit phoenix.edu to finthe program that's right for you. enroll now. ♪ atmix of energies.ve the world needs a broader that's why we're supplying natural gas to generate cleaner electricity... that has around 50% fewer co2 emissions than coal. and it's also why, with our partner in brazil, shell is producing ethanol - a biofuel made from renewable sugarcane. >>a minute, mom! let's broaden the world's energy mix. let's go. every communications provider is different but centurylink is committed to being a different kind of communications company. ♪ we link people and fortune 500 companies nationwide and around the world. and we will continue to free you to do more and focus on what matters. welcomback to "early start." it is 13 minutes past the hour. i'm zoraida sambolin. >> i'm john berman. we want to take a look at the morning papers, especially where you are around the country. in new orleans the federal government along with the city has stepped in to really rewrite the rules for the entire police force. in a complete overhaul they have a new manual, new rules for interrogations, new rums for how often they fire their weapons. this is a long time coming. this police force has been plagued by scandal, especially since katrina but really goes back since almost the beginning of time. >> i was shocked to hear eric holder was involved here. >> they asked the federal government to step in and sort of help rewrite the rules for this entire police department. they really have. it's part of a four-year plan to get this thing right. the mayor asked for it and they got it. >> yeah. he's got to pay for it, too. >> $11 million in the first year. this is so incredible. it looked too real. but it turns out that an abduction was a hoax. you've got to look very carefully here. it's really hard to see. teenagers were involved. we get this one from the sere kus post standard. this is the disturbing surveillance video that alerted police that something could be wrong here. a woman who appears to be unconscious is being placed in the trunk of a car in the parking lot of a supermarket in syracuse, new york. it turns out the whole thing was a hoax. police say that three people, a 17-year-old boy and two female juveniles came forward to admit that they staged this incident. apparently when they put the surveillance video out, parents noticed that those were their kids and told them to tell the police what they had done. >> i like what the parents did. they made their kids go to the cops and own up to it. >> but the police department was very angry. because they had a homicide overnight. they had other places where they could have sent the police officers. instead they were looking at this as a total hoax. >> they have every right to be ticked off. i don't get the joke. that's the thing. why would you do that? it's not funny by any stretch of the imagination. >> the kids said they were recreating something. it's teenagers. they think a little bit differently. >> i have a few years before my kids -- >> i'm wondering what the consequences are going to be. right now there aren't any. we'll see. in mississippi. how many times have you heard this one before? brett favre returning to football. >> i love this story. >> this time it's coaching. coaching at his local high school in hattiesburg, mississippi. oak grove high school. worked as a volunteer last year. this year he's getting an official title. no word yet on exactly what that title will be. we suspect mr. favre will be the offensive coordinator, perhaps even calling the plays. he knows a little bit about calling plays. >> can you imagine, hey, mom, guess who my coach is? >> guess what coach brett favre told me to do today. >> this is uncommon. >> most hall of fame quarterbacks don't go back and coach high school football. >> i'd love to talk to him about it. for an expanded look at our stories, head to our blog. it is quarter past the hour. let's get you updated on all the headlines. christine romans is here with this morning's top stories. brand-new poll numbers out this morning. the nbc news/"wall street journal" survey showing president obama leading mitt romney 49% to 43%. that's a three percentage point increase from just last month. but polls also showing both candidates are taking a beating from negative campaign ads. the highest ranking catholic church official convicted in the sex abuse scandal is going to prison for protecting pedophile priests. 61-year-old monosenior william lynn was sentenced yesterday in philadelphia for three to six years for child endangerment. the police said he enabled monsters in clerical garb and that the church leader knew full well what was right but chose wrong. ghana has a new president. the west african nation is morning the death of john evans atta mills. he died suddenly at a military hospital yesterday. he was 68 years old. police investigating an alleged anti-gay beating in d.c. a couple claims they were jumped late at night by three men who were hurling punches, kicks, gay slurs. one of the victims, a 29-year-old yoga instructor, suffered shattered bones in his face. a woman who witnessed the attack came running from her home, started shouting and broke it up. >> glad she was there. >> thank you, christine. 17 minutes past the hour here. here's two words you don't hear in the same sentence very often on wall street. apple and disappointing. >> no way. >> christine romans, way. she's back to explain, coming up. male spirit present.trong it's the priceline negotiator. >>what? >>sorry. he wants you to know about priceline's new express deals. it's a faster way to get a great hotel deal without bidding. pick one with a pool, a gym, a great guest rating. >>and save big. >>thanks negotiator. wherever you are. ya, no. he's over here. >>in the refrigerator? [ female announcer ] weak, damaged hair needs new aveeno nourish+ strengthen. active naturals wheat formulas restore strength for up to 90% less breakage in three washes. for strong, healthy hair with life, new aveeno nourish+ strengthen. mine was earned off vietnam in 1968. over the south pacific in 1943. i got mine in iraq, 2003. usaa auto insurance is often handed down from generation to generation. because it offers a superior level of protection, and because usaa's commitment to serve the military, veterans and their families is without equal. begin your legacy, get an auto insurance quote. usaa. we know what it means to serve. take the steps to reach yours, everyowith usgoals. with real advice, for real goals. the us bank wealth management advisor can help you. every step of the way. from big steps, to little steps. since 1863 we've helped guide our clients, so they can take the steps to help grow, preserve, and pass along their wealth. so their footsteps can help the next generation find their own path. all of us serving you. us bank who are these guys? oh, that's just my buds. bacon, donuts. -my taste buds. -[ taste buds ] waffles. how about we try this new kind of fiber one cereal? you think you're going to slip some fiber by us? rookie. okay. ♪ nutty clusters and almonds, ♪ ♪ almonds. ♪ fiber one is gonna make you smile. ♪ [ male announcer ] introducing new fiber one nutty clusters and almonds. with 43% daily value of fiber for you. crunchy nutty clusters and real almond slices for your taste buds. 21 minutes past the hour. we are minding your business this morning. u.s. stock futures trading mix. dow, s&p 500 up. nasdaq trading futures lower. >> markets in the red again yesterday. three days in a row of triple digit losses now. the other day, christine, monday, i said it looks like it's going to be a messy week. >> that's right. >> you made a little bit of fun of me for the word messy. i think it's been pretty messy. >> i saw the tarot cards in your office. you were looking into the future. it has been messy. we have treasury yields at record lows. and that means that people are plowing money into treasuries. that's the safety of treasuries and out of the stock market. three days in a row. the front page of "new york times," "wall street journal" today, people in the markets, everybody is talking about the fed and whether the fed is going to keep pushing more stimulus, more measures, new measures maybe to keep what has been a slowing economy going. a lot of talk about the fed. also a lot of talk about earnings. it is earnings season. we have a rare disappointment from apple. it is so rare for me to say that apple disappointed. because this is kaa company quarter after quarter doing so hot. i'll tell you, ipad sales were awesome. i mean, they were awesome. people are buying these things like crazy. 186,816 ipads sold every single day. >> oh, my gosh. >> that's 7,000 an hour. 129 a minute. two every second. >> that's 15 in the time it took you to say that. >> it opportunity matter. iphone sales are slowing. something like 26 million iphone sales in the quarter. there were 35 million in the same period -- the same quarter before. that means people are buying fewer iphones waiting for the new one this fall. >> they're vikt ctims of their success. they want to wait till the new one comes out. >> it's rare for apple not to blow it out of the water. they tend to have conservative guidance for the street. that stock down about 5% for the premarket. i'm suspecting a pullback in apple shares this morning. i will point out stocks are still higher on the year. it's been a really rough summer, messy as john would say. >> she laughs at me. >> stocks are still higher. higher on the year. with so much going on. the fiscal cliff, with the europ