>> newt gingrich is the latest to top the field. michele bachmann is shrugging it off. >> the main endorsement is the one here in iowa and on january 3rd. >> herman cain is struggling to regain momentum in do >> obviously false ids asians and confusions about some of my positions have contributed. >> jon huntsman is hoping for his turn. >> i am getting whiplashed watching these people go up and down. >> republican voters are still shopping around. for gingrich, more momentum means more money but also more scrutiny. brian more in washington. back to you. >> landmark elections. still to come come egypt getting its first taste of democracy in decades. a look at the chaotic boycott surrounding the elections. how your morning cup of joe could affect your risk for developing cancer. >> pretty soon, we will say goodbye to the mild weather. a big storm, mild and rainy weather on the way. here is a live look outdoors, quiet tranquil clouds, 63 at bwi marshall. 65 at the inner harbor. >> egyptian citizens are flocking to the polls to vote in

it could propel newt gingrich. the more problematic thing is that this paper could decide, pages as well as of things, to go after mitt romney and make it to campaign. him it did that in 2008 when it mccain and went on mitt romney. >> and made a difference there. three weeks that newt gingrich top of the national polls. how much longer do we see this going on? it is tough to predict. this guy is a guy who was out by everyone only ago. months but to be totally collapsed. charge the steady course. well in the very debate. he remained consistent on policy saytions and did not anything that was controversial. now it is going to be tough. there is a lot of attention on him. of chancesng a lot to talk. he talks, the more gets into. >> his stance on immigration, great, that is bold, from a conservative standpoint, it is not aligned with what the republicans want. >> that was looked to as test.ing that was a his ability to be the leader himself to be. he said he would not seek the support of illegal aliens. rather, he woul

newt gingrich talks about janitor jobs to kids. you are taking jobs away from the adults. >> mike, good idea or bad? >> i think if you do it with giving small businesses a better opportunity you would see a lot more young adults work. small businesses are dead. and that's where most of the young people tend to work. they work for family businesses. >> and the government is going the other way. they are trying to prevent kids on farms from driving tractors right now. >> they are against small businesses . are i think we need more aprentedisship programs and acquiring skills. we have 16 years old learning on the job as plumbers and not in the classroom and putting plumbing torch in your hand. >> what about the argument that morgan made and crowding out the work force and minimum wage workers. you will crowd out the adults. >> i am not buying it. have them sitting on facebook and twitter eating yunk food and creating health problems for themselves. there is a way to get teens who do want to work. we are talking about union jobs and te

newt gingrich? you don't know. >> other thing that came up at the debate which was interesting and fish you are we see here is aid to pakistan. michele bachmann and governor perry of texas got into it. >> michele bachmann who serves on the intelligence committee showed her credentials mattered when she talked about pakistan in the debate and made the case that pakistan was, quote, too nuclear to fail. that perry made the case that we were giving pakistan a blank check and ought to stop doing that because we weren't getting anything in return. and she turned to perry and said that that was naive. that, in fact, of course you have to deal with pakistan and of course you have to support pakistan to a certain agree, and by the way, you may not know this, governor, we are getting intelligence in return and i would know that because i serve on the intelligence committee and you don't. [laughter] >> it was a telling exchange and speaks to the larger political question about foreign aid, because rick perry

romney. >> skeptics say newt gingrich has issues. including its lobbying fees from a controversial clients. >> many experts think mitt romney remains the one to be at. some republicans are already tweeting "it's over for herman cain." making great only has $300,000 on hand, not much staff. this is newt gingrich's week to be in the spotlight and he is going up in the polls. >> we will go back to the herman cain story as soon as we hear more details from his latest accuser. >>> d.c. police are looking for clues into the shootings and stabbings of six people at a dupont circle restaurant police are searching surveillance camera video for the suspect in the incident sunday morning. one person was killed, five others were injured. we are learning of previous incidents that raised concerns by police. sam ford is live in northwest washington. >> we have learned that five months ago, at the same club, and event promoted by the same promoter, there was an incident in which there was a fight and was pushed out into the street. people were beat

gingrich might have a new problem. >> a serious country. >> reporter: newt gingrich looked strong until a question on amnesty for illegal immigrants. >> i'm prepared to take the heat for saying let's be humane enforcing the law and creating legality so that they are not separated from their families. >> reporter: he may take heat in states like iowa where conservative republicans mostly oppose any form of amnesty. other take aways from last night, strong performances from candidates with strong foreign policy expertise. like former ambassador to china john huntsman. >> are you suggesting we take the troops out next week? did you hear what i said draw down from 100,000 troops. >> reporter: michelle bachmann. >> you are not going to be an alli of the united states do not expect a dime of our citizen's money to come in your country. >> i think that is highly naive. >> reporter: and there were gotcha moments. >> torrey doning reporting live. thanks for that report. jamie. >>> coming up all new at 6:00, a homeless man killed while walking to a shelter after getting out of the hospital and no

you and i have known for newt gingrich for over 20 years. you walk around with newt gingrich, and he always has a live hand grenade in his pocket. you never know when it's going explode. >> you want that in a president, steve? do you want a president with a live hand grenade in his pocket? >> i'm not so for sure, but for the last couple months it's not det take it. he's looked good. i've gone through his economic program, and i think it's excellent. he sounds very much like a modern-day jack kemp. it's an appealing message. >> a pro-growth message with substantial tax cutting as part of it. is that what you like? >> tax cuts, personal accounts for social security. one of the things i love, he wants to get rid of the congressional budget office, the bane of existence. he has innovative ideas, very attractive to conservative republican voters. >> joe, do you share this enthusiasm? >> no, i don't think so. i think gingrich has his schtick. >> schtick? >> real fundamental change, paul, dramatic change. this is the most important election since 1

unfortunately, newt gingrich is one of them who has done it. far too many of them do it, and one of the reforms that i propose in my book is to close permanently the door, the revolving door between public service and cashing in as a lobbyist. >> let's talk about gingrich. you're operating at a time there when he's in power. is there more to even the gingrich era that he was part of that will become a bigger part of this campaign debate, and should it? >> i don't know if he's survive this. it's a big thing. >> why? >> he's engaged in the exact kind of corruption that america disdai disdains. the very things that angry the tea party movement and the "occupy wall street" movement and watching washington and says why do they get all the money and become so rich? unfortunately newt seems to play in it. >> you call that corruption. that's a heavy charge. >> it is a corruption. at the end of the day, i say in the book, i believe now, although i didn't believe then, unfortunately, that any provision of favor or any provision of anything to members of

newt gingrich is talking about, of course, the occupy protesters. after the pepper spray at uc- davis, public opinion may have shifted in the other direction. >> there is nobody at two more for a definition and sort of update on the moral system -- nobody i look to more it for a definition and sort update on the moral system and fabric of this country than in the former speaker of the house. >> [laughter] >> if you play three minutes of newt gingrich, the pomposity is so self congratulatory that his candidacy would implode. that said, the occupy movement was given a lift by the excess, and no question, the abuse at ucal-davis, but they have got to come up with different formats, they have got to come up with something other than occupying public property and disrupting transportation. >> i agree with mark, but newt in that thing, which i at least partly agree with, the t -- betrayed his generation. he is trying to make a vietnam war-era cultural statement about this movement. yes, there are people like that there, people who need a bath, but also a

>> newt gingrich, according to newt gingrich, told a freddie mac while he was being paid $25,000 to $30,000 a month, that their business model was insane. nobody at freddie mac ever heard him say this, and at least five people say he never did say it. but this is newt gingrich, and going back to what charles' point was, this is a man who has shown incredible intellectual flexibility. he is somebody who has been on both sides of an awful lot of issues. i think that is what is going to be his undoing. >> here's a question from friday's "wall street journal." "how to politicians who are rife in washington, d.c. as a minimum of modest means the as millionairess?" -- leave as millionaires?" question posed by sarah palin. >> while the rest of the country has been hurting, the washington area has been doing great, and a big part of that is lobbying money. congress is bought and sold legally. that is the problem. if you don't think that these congressmen are bought and sold, you are dreaming. >> taking advantage of inside information that would send somebody on wall street to prison. >> the supreme

i suspect something similar at will happen to newt gingrich. as happened to michele bachmann and others. the reason president obama is creeping up in the eight polls is this is what people are seeing on a weekly basis. >> with which of these candidates would you be most comfortable? >> probably everyone except ron paul, who was living in the 1920's, who thinks we can have a moat around the united states and if we ignore the world, the world what it ignore us. i don't think there is a lot of the division. jon huntsman is slightly in moderate on afghanistan, but romney made a good point in the debate -- since the plan is to leave in two years anyway, and everybody agrees that you keep a residual force, even huntsman and obama i presume, the argument over a few months one way or the other in the end is a very small division. even though clinton wants to be the want to say we build a nation -- even though-it must be the guy to say we build a nation at home and abroad, he is not for immediate withdrawal. >> he has had experience abroad, he knows his

newt gingrich is at the top of his neck and neck with mitt romney i think the president is a nice guy. i just don't think he understands how the economy works. >> michael franks says with newt gingrich's rise also comes scrutiny like a revelation that he got more than $1 million in a deal with freddie mac pierre >> as you rise, there is a premium place to expose or discuss what the perceived liabilities are for each canada. but gingrich is going to that face of the cycle. >> for three days he sat out of practice because of a toe injury, will ray lewis take the field against the bengals? >> the greatest concept has been 52 lining up in the middle. ray lewis suffered a few injuries along the way. as they gear up for two games in five days, his availability is listed as questionable. it does feel premature to say ray lewis will not play sunday, much less next week given his history of embracing pain. the leader for the franchise is not 100%. >> you cannot count ray lewis out. there could be reports out there that you could put over some rocks and think you have something and you might ha

and proposals that pour forth from newt gingrich. if you are a democrat and look being at newt gingrich as a likelyy opponent to barack obama. it is like the balloons that float down central park. any moment any one of those trees could poke it and the balloon explodes and that is what is going on with newt gingrich. i forgot about that baggage and insurance problem. it is too much and you just have to wonder and so it is not about mitt romney. i think it is about mitt romney. it is not about newt. why is it everybody comes and challenge mitt and he can't get above the limit of 23 or 25 percent. >> chris: let me go back brit to go back to newt. as bill points out. there is a lot to like about newt. he was if you are a conservative republican. he was the guy the republican revolution in 1994 . brought them back from the wilderness for the first 40 years. >> exactly. and welfare reform and balanced budget and a lot of things. and even his record as speaker is checkered. >> i don't dispute a word about the things that happened. presiden

we start with the apparent gop front-runner right now, newt gingrich. david gregory is the moderator of nbc's "meet the press." and howard fineman is an msnbc political analyst and "the huffington post" media group editorial director. david gregory, great to have you on. we'll talk about "meet the press" coming up this weekend. but let me ask you about this whole thing. don't you think just in a psychological way, what do you think it does to mitt romney, who's been running for president since the last time to realize that newt gingrich is now the preferred candidate of the republican party, with all newt's baggage. i mean, totally, objectively, he's carrying so much baggage, serial marriages, moved out by his own caucus for the speakership. and here he is back as if none of that happened. >> i think it's troubling for romney. at the same time, i think there's a level of resignation in the romney campaign, that their campaign was not predicated on setting the electorate on fire. by being this charming historical figure. this was going to be a different

i suspect something s similar will happen to newt gingrich. it has happened to michele bachmann and others. i think the reason obama is creeping up in the polls is this is what people are seeing on a weekly basasis. >> when it comes to foign policycy and natiol security, the subject of this debate, with which of these candidates would you be most comfortable? >> probably everyone except ron paul who is living in the 1920's and things we can have a moat around the unit states and we nore the world, the wod will ignore us. i n't think there's a lot of the division. jon huntsman is slightly moderate on afghanistan, but romney me a good point in the debate -- since the plan today is to leave in two yrs anyway, and everybody agrees that you keep residual force, even huntsman and obama, i presume it is an argument over a f few months one way or the other. in the end, there is a ve small division, even though huntsman wants to be the one to say that we need to build a nation at home rather than abroad. he says he's not for immediaiate withdrawal. >>

newt gingrich is floating of the pack.op was oncempaign by the contents this summer. could get -- newt gingrich is soaring these days. >> i am sorry that there are some standing room only. me as they introduced front runner. you cannot tell what is going to happen. >> how did you win battles -- boaters over? -- voters over? -- thebers show him former speaker is in a tie with mitt romney. means someonehat down. >> we have to get our mojo back. >> ok, libya. >> about 12 second pause by even more confusion. >> i do not agree with the way he handled it. that is a different one. i have to go back. was justaff says he tired, working on for hours of sleep. had a question about collective bargaining agreement. time to show you all of those clips. mitt romney really continues to be the steady ship in all of this. debit card fees, now another big bank is doing charges. some of the see what is changing at chase bank. some wet dy for weather heading our way. the caps are trying to break out of their slump tonight. >>> you are watching abc7 news 6, on your side. >>> our economic d

it was re-adopted when newt gingrich came into power. in the early part of the decade, that provision was dropped. we no longer had to pay for what we bought. that is what led us to be deep deficits. the republicans want to exempt from pago the cutting of taxes -- paygo the cutting of taxes and other expenditures that have caused us to have a great debt. we do not need an amendment. we need immediate action now. this super committee poses that opportunity. i am hopeful that the majority in the house and senate will support the product that the committee comes up with. that is what we should be focused on. the balanced budget amendment is a distraction and a political device, not a policy device. >> let's talk about a more imminent spending issue. the government authority to spend money runs up on november 13. you said you would not vote any extension -- vote on any extension of that authority. are we heading for another shutdown? what are the issues going to be that would prevent you from voting to continue to operate the government pass

newt gingrich is going to school him. it will be so bad he will deliver enough sympathy to win the election. >> bob: somebody elig said nice things about newt. do we have bill clinton up here? >> he is articulate and tries to think of a conservative version of an idea that will solve a legitimate problem. for example, last night, i watched the national security debate last night. newt said two things that would make an independent voter say i've got to consider that. >> bob: that is the key. newt made independent voter statements. we would prefer to run against gingrich than romney. i think bill in his own way there is a good old boy, he's just fine. from my stand point, newt is terrific. >> eric: i think you're right that the obama administration would rather run against anybody but romney. seen the mitt versus mitt ad? >> dana: the white house is exciting they are going to run against romney so that's why they're making time and money ads against -- >> bob: i'm not sure it's wasting. >> dana: it's too early.>> all of us

new hampshire giving a huge boost to republicaa presidential candidate newt gingrich ... aad delivering what could be a major low to &pttp contender, mitt romney. steve centanni has more on the hefty supporttbehind gingrich. 3 3 the manchester union-llader - ... always an influential ffrce in local and national politics ... has thrown it's support behind newt gingrrch ... in a boost for thh newly resurgent former house speaker and a snub of the lonn-time front runner mitt rrmney. today's front page editorial &psaid about gingrich:(f/s new endorsement)"we don't haae to agree with them on evvry issue. we would rather back pomeone with whom we may sometimes disagree thannone who tells us whht he thinks we want to hear""oseph w. mcquaid new hammshire union leader cam) another g-o-p candidate ... john untsman giigricc endorsement onnfox news sunday. huntsman says: pa month ago for newt gingrich to have bben in the runnnng to capturr thh manchester union leader woull've been unthinkable, so i think it reflects more than anything else the fluidity, the unpredictability of the ra

of course the endorsement of newt gingrich. they say gingrich is by no means the perfect candidate but we would rather back someone with whom we may sometimes disagree than one who tells us what we think they want to hear. that is clearly a slap to mitt romney. >> we're proud of the strong endorsements we have in new hampshire. we have governor and a lot of strong conservative support in new hampshire. >> you know, governor romney knows this is an important election and he wants to take his message directly to each voter. >> i want to ask you about a bloom berg article. >> is -- with that history, is that similar to what we are seeing now in the match up between newt and mitt romney on immigration? >> governor romney discussed his position on immigration and illegal immigration extensively in the last campaign. that's nothing new. he proved that he does not support amnesty or illegal immigrants cutting in line between those who are trying to come to this country lawfully. if you look at his record, he vetoed for illegal immigra

barney frank said newt gingrich is capable of imploding. given the fact as you said earlier they happened in the not so distant past, do you think newt gingrich may have learned? >> he has learned some things, but he is fundamentally undisciplined and politics be successful at the highest levels. you have to have a great sense of discipline. the issue is not going to be what happened to him in the past. we know that the republican primary voters are willing to overlook a lot of that. it's whether he will be able to hold up to the swings and errors of the current campaign or melt down as barney frank indicated. he is -- which newt will show up? the policy or the scholar or the snappish undisciplined self defeating candidate. they probably will before time. >> anything but mitt romney. they show gingrich leading or in a tie. blowing him away in south carolina. will voters forget about newt's adultery and the poison onnous behavior of the past and be able to pull it off or are ow john's side of the pages where you think that newt will probably

. >> brown: you brought up newt gingrich. the biggest sort of aftermath issue, i guess, on this was newt gingrich on immigration when he suggest the the possibility that some illegal immigrants could be allowed to stay in the country. opponents pounced. will that have some last, impact? >> he had a very select group. if you've been here for 25 years, paid taxes, had children and grandchildren and belong dod a local church eye don't know if you weren't an active church member-- let's be frank. we're not going to round up 11 million americans or 11 million people here in this country working, the estimate is, and deport them. it would be absolutely suicidal to our economy, nothing else beyond the humane elements of it, the legal questions. but newt gingrich showed himself to be a recklessly compassionate or a bleeding heart liberal or something-- >> brown: "recklessly compassionate." >> you saw what happened to rick perry when he defended his state law which allows the children of undocumented immigrants who do work here and wh

gingrich. >> congresswoman michele bachmann came at former speaker of the house newt gingrich with guns blazing about an editorial in the new york times welcomed people. >> newt gingrich is on a letter saying he was for amnesty, even as recently as less than a year ago, he came up with the same policy that again said that he stands for amnesty for illegal aliens. >> reporter: the gingrich campaign saw that and e-mailed us a fiery response. >> as gingrich continues to tell supporters, he does not support amnesty, he did have his biggest crowd of the campaign so far yesterday down in florida. 750 strong. and pollsters say that while most people consider romney the front runner, gingrich could be the one to knock him out of first place. romney does have a number of liabilities as a candidate. so while he is probably more electable now, it is not clear to me that that's necessarily going to be the case for the long haul. >> the former speaker and current threat to mitt romney, newt gingrich, will spend the first half of the week in south carolina. >>> the population has doubled in lower man

but this is newt gingrich. oing back to what charles' point was, this man has shown incredible intellectual flexibility. he is somebody who has been on both sides of an awful lot of issues. that is going to be his undoing. >> here is a question from friday's "wall street journal." "how to politicians who arrive in washington, d.c. what with modest means leave as millionaires?" question posed by sarah palin. >> so much money i washington. while the rest of the country has been hurting, the washington area has been great, and the big part of that is lobbying money. politicians are bought and sold legally. that is the problem. if you don't think these congressmen are not bought and sold, you are dreaming. >> inside information sending somebody to present -- >> the supreme court may say there is no corruption that justifies restrictions on campaign money, but there are going to be billions and billions of dollars spent this year. we will not know who sped them, who they benefitted, and the kinds of scandals you mig

newt gingrich is nothing iff not glib. unfortrtunaty, there are facts that conadict thehings he said when you say you did not lobby, it becomes a techninical truth. you are getting paid mamet's amounts of money, and the strategic advice is how have access to people he was formerly speaker for and howow to do the deals you want to do, and then that becomes a distinction without a difference. >> mark? >> nt gingrich, according to newtingrich, told freddie mac whom he was being paid $25,000 to $30,000 a month that ththe business model wasas insane, and at the houousing bubble was goining to blow. nobody at freddie mac ever heard him say this, at least five people say he never d say it. but this is newt gingrich, and coming back to what charles' point was, this is a man who has shown incrediblintellectual flexibility. he is somebody who has been on both sides o of an awful lot of issues and that is going to be his undoing. >> here's a question from fridayay's "wall street journal." "how to politicians who are right in washingt

some decided they prefer newt gingrich. talking to him personally. they have said coming through out they don't know who they are going to vote for. there will be more debates. they will extend the attacks ads against romney but he will be able to make his case. there are legitimate criticisms of gingrich. the thought that he is going to attack him from the right and conservative i think that will not be credible. >> we should point out one of debates phil was talking about is the fox debate. it look the last before the iowa caucuses january 3rdrd. when we come back a super failure as legislative gridlock rules the day in washington. [ morgan ] the super bowl. the most epic day in america. and the end of a journey that began here... ...when the swipe of a visa card... ...gave one man the chance to bring happiness to ten friends, including the knuckleheads at the car wash. those are super bowl tickets? yes dude! you're going to the super bowl! [ morgan ] use your visa card for a chance to win. to see more of the story, visit our facebook page. i wish

. >>> still to come on wjz eye witness news, a big step forward for newt gingrich in the presidential primary race. >>> historic day for egyptians in their bid to install a new government. >>> no sun but nice warm temperatures will greet you when you head out. the first warning weather forecast, coming up. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, . >>> security is tight across the country as voters cast ballots in elections. egyptians lined up early at polling stations to vote in the first election since the fall of mubarak. they are not choosing a president yet, just choosing a parliament to draft a new constitution. >>> endorsement for newt gingrich as candidates gear up for the new hampshire primary. the union leader is endorsing the former house speaker calling him an innovative conservative. newt gingrich is neck and neck with mitt romney, with new hampshire's primary six week away, analysts say it could sway voters. >>> rescue effort by passers by who happened to witness an accidents in california. one person died and others were hurt when a pickup truck rolled over yesterday. see a group of people w

newt gingrich 13%. and herman cain 17%. the field is still wide open. only 30% of republicans and independents are committed to their candidates. >>> it was a dreary friday but the rain is starting to push out. weekend, drying conditions on tap. >>> coming up, after the forecast a thousand dollars in bits and pieces. find out what happened and the length one couple went to get their cash back. >>> new tonight, bank bail outs have been a source of anchor for the "occupy wall street" protesters. now according to two whistle blowers there is a new outrage. some of the nation's biggest banks defrauded veterans. martin savage reports. >> he spent three years in the army. he was shocked by a bank loan document. >> it was really apparent. >> reporter: it was clear the bank was ripping off a veteran who was trying to refinance his home. >> the veteran didn't see it, it was really slick how they did it. >> reporter: they began going through other loan paper work. >> everyone of the lenders were doing the same thing. >> reporter: this shows how it was done. the b

newt gingrich said he was for it. and even as recently as a year ago before the latinos in the united states. he came out with the policy that said he stands for amnesty for illegal aliens. >> bachmann pointed out no mention of the 25 years and law-abiding and the other qualifiers that newt gingrich is putting on it now. what about that? >> first thing, i think you have to acknowledge that speaker newt gingrich is the only presidential candidate in all of the years that i have followed politicings who will affirm that the united states has a sovereign right to define and protect its border. you never hear anybody else talk about that. and the other thing you hear speaker newt gingrich talk about. yen 20 13. he will have provided operational controls of the u.s.-mexico border. currently, you have the secretary and department of homeland security say we have 40 percent control. i am sorry, that is a failing grade . speaker newt gingrich is talking about operational control in one year's time. if you have operational con

are overwhelmed by the ideas and proposals that pour forth from newt gingrich. but the fact is in just hard political terms if you are democrat and looking at newt gingrich as a likely opponent to barack obama maybe the analogy is like those balloons that will float down central park for thanksgiving. any moment any one of those trees along the way to poke it and the balloon explodes and that is what is going on with newt gingrich. any moment you say oh, my gosh, i foregot about that baggage. i foregot about the insurance problem, you know. it is just too much at some point. you have to wonder. it is not about mitt romney. i think it is about mitt romney. it is not about newt. it is about mitt romney. why is it that everybody comes along and challenges mitt. he can't get above that limit of 23 to 25%. >> chris: let me go back and we omaha bank have a couple of minutes to go back to newt. because as bill points out, i mean there is a lot to like about newt. he was if you are a conservative republican, he was the guy who -- the republican revolution in 1994. he br

, for making illegal immigrants citizens. >> i thought it was newt gingrich's finest hour frankly. it may hurt him in the short-term, but the reality is the next president is not going to order the deportation of 12 million people. >> even one million. >> american people won't stand for it. a or draconian laws that force people to leave. and newt gingrich should have credit for wanting an adult discussion for this and not an applause line. >> and a candidate looking beyond the primaries to a general election where the republicans will need some hispanic support in order to defeat barack obama and if newt gingrich seems to be the only one who realizes, dan. >> and that can be said about the national security issues as well. obama has not been horrible on 0 national security. he had bob gates as defense secretary and leon panetta as ceo and replaced him with david petraeus and continued the drone wars and i think what romney is doing is positioning, as well as gingrich, positioning themselves at this point. first of all, it looks like they're going to be the two candidates and they'r

mitt romney and newt gingrich. plus or minus 4, that's a tie across the board. gingrich, surging in most pol polls. steve you spent time with the speaker. your take? >> interesting to listen to him talk about his personal baggage. i interviewed three dozen people in south carolina. i was stunned how many people are willing to look past that and say what he has done, he has done. he said he asked for forgiveness. he has moved on and we shall, too. in the course of talking to the people in south carolina, i would say 90% of them said in the first sentence, he is intelligent. maybe the smartest person in the field. excellent debater. he is using it in the stump speech extensively. >> the herman cain campaign trying to get past the sexual harassment allegations. he had another bit of a hiccup we showed you last night about answering a question in an editorial board about libya. he talked about that today. >> the pause was to gather my thoughts. people want to make a big deal about it. if you were asked seven or eight questions, somebody switches to libya and they ar

no ground rules. >> herman cain and newt gingrich. together togetting economic plans on medicare. >> if we are stupid, we will end like a breeze. >> and social security. i am a social need a strong of an idea that george bush produced. >> any candidate not prepared to about getting younger choosens the right to serious solution on social security. topic off limits in debate was the sexual harassment charges herman cain. but he changed his story on the allegations. of the alleged victims did down. k >> mr. kane and knows the that wasincident alleged. if he chooses not to remember or is hisedge those, that issue. >> so far the allegations have heard his campaign. abc poll say most republicans is not a serious matter. his rivals are steering clear of controversy. not mentioned with the candidates address to the reagan the dinner in iowa. bachmann criticized cain saying people are adult in then room. topic should come up when they're is a debate next week we debate next week. the top eight republican indidates will be featured detroit. >>

>> i think newt gingrich survived through persistence. the only thing not known about newt gingrich is they balloted the budget cut taxes and reformed the major entitlement program. i think he solidified himself as a nonromney candidate. i think in large part because of what kelly said. he was inok rated fr -- inocula from the candidates listed pawlenty fox and perry and cain. >> would you go back to work for him? >> i am not going to rule anything out but i am not going to announce anything. people who follow politics feel we can lose perspective. he h we had an avalanche fall on the campaign. i took the short view and thought terp dead. newt took the long view and started to sis descend the mountain again. >> i have 30 seconds left because of this terror bust i am short on time. do you think he can sustain the momentum with the press ma'amering about him every day about the divorces the hypocrisy about making the money from freddie mac? >> it may em bold enhim a bit. the candidate that the grass-roots feel is being put upon unfairly the