wolf blitzer, gloria and john king will be here in a moment to talk about it. but first, two people that are very happy with the results. i spoke with newt gingrich's daughters, jackie and cathy. ladies, judging by the big grins on your faces, you're pretty happy down there. >> we're thrilled to be here in south carolina. >> it's a great place to be tonight. >> i bet it is. what an amazing turn around for your father. i've spoken to him a few times and he was dead on arrival in the summer. he made this amazing comeback. then he was like the has been who had blown his chance. now he's the front-runner. how do you feel? >> very excited. i think what it proves to everybody, the american people, i think he's like the energizer bunny. he goes on and on and on. he's very persistent and that's one of the things we love about him. >> it seemed to me that his fortunes seemed to change rather dramatically when he stopped being saint newt, this word new creation he had come up with a halo and took the gloves off and became nasty newt. >> well, i wouldn't say that exactly.

>> actually -- >> john king? >> no, i think it will get worse. i think they will get more in their face because they don't want to know who the candidates really are. everything is about policy and more importantly, sean, everything is gotcha. can i show you you said something different that had ton you said two weeks ago or you got a come ma in the wrong place or you transposed a number. and what voters are look for is who they are as people, what are their principles, who are their values and we want to he soot human nature of the candidate. >> i got all of that. but here's my point. don't you think that these journalism, mainstream, those with an agenda, those who use the term "well critics say" and who are these critics? they are unnamed, anonymous. the people in this country are savvy to media that has an agenda. so do you think that maybe some of these so-called journalists are going to think twice about embarrassing themselves and having what happened to john king happen to them? >> well, look, john king got hit because of what happened wi

king's show, i thought he was really mad at john king. gingrich seems to revel in these platforms, whether he is getting worked up about the moderators or not. >> i think it helps him when he -- aside from this last debate, i think it's helped him. i think when juan williams was asking him really tough questions and the fox debate and i think when the john king moment happened, i think that ultimately helped gingrich in south carolina. you know -- >> my question, jackie is -- my question, jackie -- hold on a second. my question is how much of this is for show? i mean, newt gingrich looked really, really -- >> a couple of days later it's like, sure, go on the show, talk some more. you're saying? >> i think it's absolutely -- i think it's absolutely for show. i do. because it plays to his base and to the people that are angry at the media. it plays to people who are angry at the president, frankly, and the people who love him best. i think a lot of it's for show. i think the explosiveness of the anger, particularly with the john king questi

. >> john king is an excellent journalist. newt gingrich is an excellent politician. the excellent politician tries to embarrass the guy who asks the question. the excellent journalist, nevertheless, asked that question. knowing full well a crowd and a big one will turn on him because he did ask it. >> brian, should king have frame the question more pointedly rather than to say do you want to say something about this so the government would understand why it was important, and then once they were unloaded on, and took that club and whacked him, should he have come back more forcefully -- >> gunning rich was prepared for that to be the first topic of the night, and he had an attack planned on the press. no matter how it was asked. >> the danger then, you are the moderator of the event, and you don't want to be drawn into the position of debating the candidate, like you're not just a moderator, but a participant. >> you don't want to make it all about you. >> i disagree. there was a great opportunity to do that because in an earlier debate when they were speaking more g

wolf blitzer, gloria and john king will be here in a moment to talk about it. but first, two people that are very happy with the results. i spoke with newt gingrich's daughters, jackie and cathy. ladies, judging by the big grins on your faces, you're pretty happy down there. >> we're thrilled to be here in south carolina. >> it's a great place to be tonight. >> i bet it is. what an amazing turn around for your father. i've spoken to him a few times and he was dead on arrival in the summer. he made this amazing comeback. then he was like the has been who had blown his chance. now he's the front-runner. how do you feel? >> very excited. i think what it proves to everybody, the american people, i think he's like the energizer bunny. he goes on and on and on. he's very persistent and that's one of the things we love about him. >> it seemed to me that his fortunes seemed to change rather dramatically when he stopped being saint newt, this word new creation he had come up with a halo and took the gloves off and became nasty newt. >> well, i wouldn't say that exactly.

john did it the same way. >> i'm a big fan of john king. not just because i work here. i've been working here for two decades. he said, this is my decision and my decision alone. there is something i want to get to the heart of with you and that is much of mary ann gingrich's interview was not seen at the time of this debate. it was not aired until "nightline" last night, 11:35 on abc. i'm not so sure how many of the people who were standing with that standing ovation knew the fwravity of what mary ann gingrich said. i just want to play a quick piece of what she told abc's brian ross on "nightline" last night. have a look. >> i said to him, we've been married a long time. and he said, yes, but you want me all to yourself. calista doesn't care what i do. >> what was he saying to you, do you think? >> he was asking to have an open marriage. i refused. >> erick erickson, when i heard that my stomach turned. newt gingrich said these are lies. every time newt gingrich is on the stump from now to the next 26 hours and calista is beside him, people if they now know the story k

the moderator for cnn john king asked newt about his ex-wife's new interview. let's watch newt's very effective right away he turned it into a charge against the media. let's watch. >> she says you asked her, sir, to enter into an open marriage. would you like to take some time to respond to that? >> no. but i will. i think the destructive, vicious, negative nature of much of the news media makes it harder to govern this country, harder to tract decent people to run for public office. and i am appalled that you would begin a presidential debate on a topic like that. >> well, howard, you notice how he turns the question about his behavior into a criticism of the media. it's an old tactic. attack from a defensive position. there you go again. watch a bit more. your thoughts on what we just saw, howard. >> okay. well, that was to be expected. cnn had been talking about that open marriage quote all afternoon. newt was loaded for wear. newt has been attacking the media all through this. for a republican crowd in a conservative state, that's just cat nip. they love i

he went after john king. he went after his ex-wife. he went after the whole thing. and at the end of it, the crowd gave him a standing ovation and you could almost feel voters in south carolina rushing to the polls. >> there's no doubt that people in south carolina can respond to that kind of fighting spirit to stand up to those who may have a viewpoint that they really have a strong disagreement with. it is going to be interesting to see, over the course of time, though, for evangelical voters who learn from scripture and the teachings of jesus christ that marriage is really a stake red calling. over the course of the campaign as they reflect on what's happened in newt's life with regard to marriage because of adultery two times, tlg be interesting to see how that affects every lo venvery long e voters. people right now are so interested in finding a candidate that can be successful in the election. >> it seems to me that actually they're more concerned with somebody who can beat barack obama than they are about his marital woes 10, 15, 20 year s anyway, fascinatin

yes, we have john king in there. john, let me start off with you. it does seem when you talk to whether it's senator demint or jeff or folks on the left or right, they're on completely different planets. >> that's a good way to put it, on different planets. elections matter. if the american people hear anything, it's contrast. a very unapologetic speech from the president defending the role of the government in economy. you went through the tax credits, the president sharing his tax law. he's talking about the an an apologetic hand in the government, and from the predsaying he's not spending enough time on the debt, and mitch daniels, he said the pretdz believes in a government with benevolent government. david was being cute by saying the campaign can wait. it's already under way. >> i don't know when one of you is from mars or seens, but it seems like you see the same set of facts and interpret them differently. >> i'm from texas and fleisher is from new york. which one is liberal and which one is conservative? i'm struck at both sides, but mora e

although john king is a good guy, he's a fine reporter. he's an honest guy. he's a straight character. you might ask whether you should start with that question. >> you mean it was a mistake? it was a mistake? >> i think it was a mistake on john king's party to lead on >> my income comes overwhelmingly from investments made in the past. >> republican presidential contender mitt romney was asked this week what tax break he was paying on his income. his answer -- >> it's er tots 15% rate than anything. >> question, governor romney has a net worth of $250 million. he definitely is in the top 1% of the american wealth population. on one hand, this shows his business experience. on the other hand, he is more vulnerable to populous attacks. which impact is the more powerful? eleanor? >> he is going to become the vehicle through which the american public learns just how rigged our tax system is. he says he paid close to 15%. that could be under 15%. he may have paid less than that over some years. he's also apparently got some investments in the cayman islands. he a

the moderator for cnn, john king, asked newt about his wife's new interview. let's watch newt's very effective answer. right away he turned it into a charge against the media. let's watch. >> she says you asked her, sir, to enter into an open marriage. would you like to take some time to respond to that? >> no, but i will. [ applause ] i think the destructive, vicious, negative nature of much of the news media makes it harder to govern this country, harder to attract decent people to run for public office, and i'm appalled you would begin a presidential debate on a topic like that. [ applause ] >> howard, you notice how he turns a question about his behavior into a criticism of the media. it's an old tactic. attack from a defensive position. there you go again. watch a bit more. your thoughts on what we just saw. howard? >> well, that was to be expected. cnn had been talking about that open marriage quote all afternoon. newt was loaded for bear. he knew what was going to happen. newt has been attacking the media all through this. for a republican crowd in a co

he really pounded hard on john king on cnn and the media. do you think in a that he successfully put the issue to bed so to speak? >> well, he didn't put it to blbed in the sense that it will continue to be an issue in the campaign. however, i think for him politically, he addressed it correctly in the way that only newt gingrich could address it. he turned it around, he spun it on the media, said that we want to know the answers to this. but the fact of the matter is the question had to be asked. it was the story dominating yesterday. it had to be gotten out of the way. we should note that as much as the tirade that mr. gingrich put towards john king last night, he also said after the debate to anderson cooper that he thought john did a very good job moderating the debate. so he will continue to be asked this question, but he was so forceful last night in doing so, he could just say i've answered it and i do not want to be asked ever again. >> yeah, quite startling. takes courage for a journalist to ask him again. but we'll see if the voter

although john king is a good guy, he's a fine reporter. he's an honest guy. he's a straight character. you might ask whether you should start with that question. >> you mean it was a mistake? it was a mistake? >> i think it was a mistake on john king's party to lead on >> my income comes overwhelmingly from investments made in the past. >> republican presidential contender mitt romney was asked this week what tax break he was paying on his income. his answer -- >> it's er tots 15% rate than anything. >> question, governor romney has a net worth of $250 million. he definitely is in the top 1% of the american wealth population. on one hand, this shows his business experience. on the other hand, he is more vulnerable to populous attacks. which impact is the more powerful? eleanor? >> he is going to become the e american public learns just how rigged our tax system is. he says he paid close to 15%. that could be under 15%. he may have paid less than that over some years. he's also apparently got some investments in the cayman islands. he also may not want everybo

let's bring in john king, ari fleischer. eric, the debate over bain capital, is that one that is still resonating here in south carolina. >> i think it is to a degree, and the degree is even if the evangelical meeting in texas, a lot of people wanted to defend capitalism, but they understand, how do you make money when you lose and win at the same time? and the entry tonight, we want someone who grew up in the streets of america. i scratched my head and said which one of your five houses in the streets of america, martha's vineyard really the streets of america? >> eric is not a romney fan. >> not a romney fan. >> it leaves a lot of people with that question. he has been, the reason he stumbugs in the debate that is more surprising is he has been such a consistent debater or the course of the campaign and he's corrected mistakes. there's something about the last week, something about the tax question. we don't read minds, don't understand the strategy. when gingrich first serves, they were complaining, but they got back it i

he used the question just like judo, and he handed john king his head on the platter. and he got the standing ovation. it probably won him a lot of votes in simply the way he handled it. so there was a transformation. they were certainly ready for it. he came back after it really hard and denied it. the one thing that's interesting to me, going back and reading and listening to the transcript of a speech he gave on traditional values and religious values the day after he asked his wife for a divorce, i've noticed that he's not really brought that card to the table this year. and of course, this is an economic election. it's not a values election. >> you're dead right. our table is filled with what we worry about as a voter. voters are so caught up in the economy and their anger against this president. they have no time to think about somebody's marital history. what do you expect her to say? these divorces are always sad and based on acrimony. i think a lot of people think what erin reported is old news. thank you erin. thank you, james. next, what's stephen colbert re

we'll see if the tea party will reassert itself. >> john king, thank you very much. listen, don't forget to catch john king usa tonight at 6:00 p.m. >>> i've decided to turn to texas, assess the results of tonight's caucus, determine whether there is a path forward. >> all right. so doesn't -- it sure sounds like the texas governor is dropping out, right? it sounds like it to me. take a look at perry. apparently he's living to fight another day. but what's behind the strategy? you're about to hear him from someone who knows him better than most people. don't miss it. h. they grow up, and they're out having their life. i really started to talk to them about the things that are important that they have to take ownership over. my name's colleen stiles, and my kids and i did our wills on legalzoom. [ shapiro ] we created legalzoom to help you take care of the ones you love. go to legalzoom.com today and complete your will in minutes. at legalzoom.com, we put the law on your side. and complete your will in minutes. i'm really glad we took this last minute trip! you booked

yes, we have john king in there. john, let me start off with you. it does seem when you talk to whether it's senator demint or jeff or folks on the left or right, they're on completely different planets. >> that's a good way to put it, on different planets. elections matter. if the american people hear anything, it's contrast. a very unapologetic speech from the president defending the role of the government in economy. you went through the tax credits, the president sharing his tax law. he's talking about the regulations after the oil spill. you could go on and on. government aides to keep certain manufacturing incentives in place. an an apologetic hand in the government, and from the predsaying he's not spending enough time on the debt, and mitch daniels, he said the pretdz believes in a government with benevolent government. david was being cute by saying the campaign can wait. it's already under way. >> i don't know when one of you is from mars or seens, but it seems like you see the same set of facts and interpret them differently. >> i'm from

you know, no more john king stuff. you better go back after him. that's exactly what that was all about. i thought blitzer did a pretty good job saying, hey, if you are going to make a big deal out of it in your campaign, i'm going to ask you about it. don't give me any garbage. i would have done that. >> right. here is my rule of thumb. it's legitimate to go after a reporter or moderator if he asks you an unreasonable or unfair question that clearly shows his own biases. but wolf blitzer asked a fair and reasonable question, especially as you just said. since it was gingrich who initially brought up the swiss bank account thing earlier in the campaign. so, you did notice though, you did notice that the audience applauded gingrich and booed wolf blitzer. i think this is a reflexive reaction. i think the so-called mainstream media has made a lot of enemies over the years by their own actions and as a result the audience reflectively was rooting for newt gingrich. >> bill: i viewed it differently. >> but let me just add one sentence but wolf blitzer

let's bring in john king, ari fleischer. eric, the debate over bain capital, is that one that is still resonating here in south carolina. >> i think it is to a degree, and the degree is even if the evangelical meeting in texas, a lot of people wanted to defend capitalism, but they understand, how do you make money when you lose and win at the same time? and the entry tonight, we want someone who grew up in the streets of america. i scratched my head and said which one of your five houses in the streets of america, martha's vineyard really the streets of america? >> eric is not a romney fan. >> not a romney fan. >> it leaves a lot of people with that question. he has been, the reason he stumbugs in the debate that is more surprising is he has been such a consistent debater or the course of the campaign and he's corrected mistakes. there's something about the last week, something about the tax question. we don't read minds, don't understand the strategy. when ginrich first serves, they were complaining, but they got back it in

john king has the big picture and dana bash and joe johns look at the winners and losers and dan lothian and david mattingly looking ahead to the battlegrounds that are now more important than ever. all right, let's start with dana bash. dana? >> well, we have some potential news this morning about what this caucus has did to the field on the republican side. michele bachmann who, of course, came in a disappointing sixth, effectively dead last here in iowa is going to hold a news conference in a few hours. her campaign is not saying what it is about, but it is hastily arranged news conference. it is hard to imagine that she's going to have something and not give us news about the future or maybe lack there of of her campaign. so, kyra, we're waiting to see exactly what she says. obviously, she is somebody who was one of those who is riding very, very high in iowa. not that long ago. she actually won the first contest here. the ames straw poll only to see her popularity absolutely plummet in the last few weeks. that will be probably, potentially, some kind of result from the iowa caucuses

john king walked right into the lion's den with a suit of meat strapped to him. it just was not the smartest move. forget media ethics for a second. it was dumb, he played into gingrich's hands. >> i started in journalism the same time john king did. he's one of the best political reporters in the country. i think the way he phrased it and by starting with it, he did make a mistake. he said since the debate he's an old wire guy and the wire you lead with the lead. i don't think that was the lead. >> he also said the elephant in the room he wanted to get out of the way. >> and i saw john's quote and i understand. if gingrich had done something that became news and everybody knew that it'd occurred, that's fine. that is the lead. but the lead is not an allegation from an ex-wife who has every reason to be angry at her ex-husband going back a decade or so, dredging up what they may or may not have said together in the secrecy of their own bedroom. if that is the lead in american politics in 2012, we are all in a hell of a lot of trouble. >> let me ask you, though, l

he's not online, because john king works so late. he is the chief national correspondent for cnn, and i met him years ago in the white house when he was a white house correspondent. he's adorable. >> i met him yesterday. >> first time? >> first time. >> he's really going to love the fact you're waking him up at 6:42 in the east. said in primetime -- can we dial john king and see if we can get through to him? here's the deal. as we dial him, you should know, if you don't already, he's married to dana bash, who is also a political correspondent here at cnn. >> the conversations at their dinner table, imagine. >> and they have a baby, and we're calling their house, you know, at the crack of dawn to wake them up. hopefully we won't wake up dana. look at them. adorable together. >> how young is the baby? >> six months? >> oh, my -- they're up already. >> probably up all night. in fact. i wouldn't doubt it. one of the things we love about john is that, well, that guy's all serious when talking politics. he is hilarious off-air. he's also v

yes, we have john king in there. john, let me start off with you. it does seem when you talk to whether it's senator demint or jeff or folks on the left or right, they're on completely different planets. >> that's a good way to put it, on different planets. elections matter. if the american people hear anything, it's contrast. a very unapologetic speech from the president defending the role of the government in economy. you went through the tax credits, the president sharing his tax law. he's talking about the regulations after the oil spill. you could go on and on. government aides to keep certain manufacturing incentives in place. an an apologetic hand in the government, and from the predsaying he's not spending enough time on the debt, and mitch daniels, he said the pretdz believes in a government with benevolent government. david was being cute by saying the campaign can wait. it's already under way. >> i don't know when one of you is from mars or seens, but it seems like you see the same set of facts and interpret them differently. >> i'm from

john king so asked for that moment. i have been thinking today. imagine the preparation at cnn, they thought about what should we lead with? a lot of people watching, make sure we hit the right note. i'm not saying they shouldn't have brought it up at all. it was the news of day. why did they decide to lead with it is beyond me? it hurt them a lot. >> greg: it was on everybody's minds. i'm torn. have to do it first, it was great for me because i didn't have to watch the rest of the debate. what is it about the cnn anchors and white hair? what do they against just for men. it's out there. it's at walgreens. the reaction of the audience is interesting. they weren't cheering a guy over adultery but cheering a media slap-down. the media slap-down has become the water slide to victory. it trumps everything. he has to keep doing it. has to. >> eric: don't you think cnn and john king knew he'd do it? he's good at it. >> andrea: they knew it. they don't think they realized they handed him such a huge gift. he was able to look like a victim of the liberal

but then john king had a gotcha question. he said did you know that your father when he was running for president said he would unveil 12 years worth of stuff? would you do that? and he had to waiver a little bit. >> he said maybe he would. he went on to talking about capitalism which i thought was a strong statement. listen to this. >> and i'm going to stand and defend capitalists across this country, throughout this campaign. i know we're going to hit it hard for president obama but we're going to sufficient it down his throat and point out it's capitalism and freedom that makes america strong. >> i'm not going to apologize for being successful. >> and that was made very well -- >> i think mitt romney obviously talked to some advisors after the last debate performance and he seemed to me to be much more forceful and aggressive in a good way. >> solid. >> solid in a way that he was answering the questions. but this morning, i'd love to know what the viewers think. did you care about the ex-wife interview? did you care about

let's go over to cnn's john king over at the magic wall. first of all, john, rick perry, i think it's fair to say, all but announcing it's over for him. >> he said he was going back to texas to reassess. he's going to sit down with the team, look at the polls and talk to donors and says, is there any path to success in the campaign? dark red is romney, purple san tomorrow ru tor rum. i talked to him several hours ago. wolf. he said the plane will be warmed up in the morning, i'm going to aiken, south carolina. obviously the people in iowa, people in iowa humbled rick perry tonight. sounded like he was going home' to call it quits. the question in new hampshire, south carolina, beyond, who does that benefit? senator santorum will think it's him. speaker gingrich will think it's him. we're going to watch this play out. we're waiting for the final votes. we're up to 97%. see rick santorum with the tiniest lead. 27-10. do i have that right? is that 37 votes? that's 37 votes. i wasn't so bad at arithmetic. that's 37 votes. that's nuts, right? ca