republican debate tonight at 8:00. president obama is far from done talking about how to create jobs. that's giving comedians plenty of fodder. listen. >> president obama introduced his $447 billion job plan. that sound likes a pretty good plan. a lot of economists said today it would work if we had $447 billion. it would be a fantastic plan if we had the money. in his speech, president obama called the plan the american jobs act. that sounded better than the original title. the save my ass act. that tends to fall flat. you watch the packers/saints game? i saw the weirdest thing during the game last night. i don't know if anybody else caught this. take a look. >> flag down here. for the caught this. watch this. >> a flag down back at the 35 yardline. >> you should pass this jobs plan right away. >> joe biden and john boehner.

did you see what he did? so petty. take a look. >> loving that. "american morning" continues right now. all right. i'm ali velshi live in tampa for tonight's cnn tea party debate. brand new poll numbers are just out right now. it is rick perry and everyone else. i'm christine romans. today president obama presents his jobs plan to congress, but, first, find out what he has planned to help rally more support for that $447 billion plan. and i'm carol costello. bank of america reportedly planning to slash tens of thousands of jobs. the cutbacks create a leaner, more competitive bank, and who's jobs exactly are on the line? details on this "american morning."

good morning, everyone. it's monday. monday, september 12th. welcome to "american morning." >> yes. happy monday to you. ali velshi is live in tampa, florida, this morning, so get us rolling, ali. >> it's beautiful weather out here in tampa. politics is on the brain this morning. we're live at the florida state fairgrounds, carol and christine. the site of tonight's big tea party debate. this could be an early turning point in the race for the republican nominations. eight republican candidates will be onstage tonight, but many analysts are already calling this a two-person race, and last week the battle lines were drawn between texas governor rick perry and mitt romney over social security. something perry once called a ponzi scheme. now, a new cnn orc poll released just moments ago shows that rick perry is building an even bigger lead against his competitors.

jim acosta is here with me now. he's following it very closely. jim, doesn't matter how you have the number, rick perry is coming out not only on top but on top by a lot. >> by a big margin, right, ali. this tea party comes as not every candidate son the tea party bandwagon. one candidate is in the driver's seat. texas governor rick perry ditched his cowboys boots, far ahead of the pack. the latest poll finds perry way out in front with 30%. nearest rival mitt romney at 18%. with the rest of the field looking to play catch-up, the cnn tea party debate in florida could be a social security smackdown in a state where the program is crucial to seniors. >> it is a ponzi scheme to tell our kids that are 25 or 30 years old today, you paying into a program that's going to be there. >> reporter: after perry doubled down on this call for an overall

of social security at the last debate, romney pounced. >> the governor says, look, states ought to be able to opt out of social security. our nominee has to be someone who isn't committed to abolishing social security. >> reporter: and on "john king usa," michele bachmann. ied on. >> america needs to keep its promises to senior citizens. i talk to them all the tile. i love senior citizens. >> you usually don't start a campaign setting grandma's hair on fire, but that's what rick perry did saying social security is a ponzi scheme but implied we ho undo it if he could go back 70 years. >> reporter: where the gop is headed, more conservative tea party candidates like perry or more moderate, lime rke romney. romney stepped up only after his numbers started sagging. >> are you a member of the tea party? >> i don't think you carry cards in the tea party.

>> reporter: doubts about climate change by perry might appeal to tea party voters. >> just because you have a group of scientists saying this is the fact, galileo got outvoted for a spell. >> reporter: centrists like huntsman say it could alienate voters. >> in order for the republican party to win, we can't run from science. >> reporter: one of the interesting things about this debate, one of the fascinating things to watch tonight at the tea party debate, ali, is the fact some of the questions will be coming from tea party activists and that could throw up all kinds of trouble for rick perry and mitt romney, although michele bachmann may find the tea tastes just fine. >> members can send in questions, follow it on facebook. jon huntsman making the point how the republican party can't be the party that runs from science. we'll be talking to jon huntsman on this show later own today and also to herman cain and people

of the tea party. you'll be with me trying to make sense for those of us out there, those viewers out there, who haven't followed it as closely as you have. >> reporter: these other candidates have to find a way to get involved in the debate. last debate it was really a mitt romney, rick perry affair and a lot of folks are talking about michele bachmann having trouble. >> she's the one we'll watch closely to see whether she breaks through or whether it becomes clear this is a perry/romney competition from here on. >> we'll settle that question tonight. >> very good. don't miss the cnn tea party debate tonight live from tampa, florida, the site of the 2012 republican national convention. wolf blitzer will moderate the debate and it starts at 8:00 eastern. back to christine and carol in new york. >> should be something. i can't wait, actually. also this morning, president obama will announce he's sending lis $447 billion jobs plan to congress today. he'll make the announcement in the rose garden surrounded by

teachers, veterans and small business owners to help cover the plan's cost the president will push for more spending cuts. republican promised to consider the president's plan. growing speculation bank of america could slash up to 40,000 jobs as part of its restructuring plan. according to the "wall street journal," the numbers aren't final, but most of those layoff, expected to come from the bank's consumer banking division. bank of america's ceo has been trying to get the bank back on track after running of yup bill in mortgage related loans. and on saturday the eve of the tenth anniversary of the september 11th attacks at least two afghan civilians were killed in an attack. none of the injuries to american troops are life threatening and those wounded are expected to return to duty soon. the 9/11 memorial services

went off without a hitch, but investigators are continuing their search for terrorists who may be planning attacks. sources telling cnn they are still following up on credible but unconfirmed leads involving about as many as three potential attackers who may be trying to use vehicle bombs to strike new york or washington. no evidence an actual terrorist attack is under way. and ten years since the worst terrorist attack on u.s. soil. president obama and the first lady attending four memorial services yesterday. the final one at the kennedy center in washington. the president focusing on the bravery and resolve of those who died ten years ago and those who have been forced to carry on without them. >> this past ten years have shown that america does not give in to fear. rescue workers who rushed to the scene, the firefighters who charged up the stairs, the

passengers who stormed the cockpit, these patriots define the very nature of courage. >> the washington national cathedral was supposed to be the venue for the memorial. the event moved to the kennedy center because the cathedral was damaged by last month's earthquake. >> hard to imagine still ten years have past since america's darkest hour. the pain rushing back so vividly for millions of americans. >> at sporting events at the pentagon, shanksville, pennsylvania, and ground zero, emotions were raw as americans put aside their differences and united in their grief. gerard a. barbara. >> and my father, sean edward bowman jr. >> firefighter gary richard cox. >> christopher joseph blackwell. >> and my dad michael beck. >> we will always love you, and as you always said, daddy, we got your back.

god bless new york city and god bless america. ♪ amazing grace how sweet the sound ♪ ♪ that saved a wretch like me >> while words cannot ease the pain of these losses paying tribute, recalling not just the horror of that day but the heroism as well, will hopefully give you some comfort and stiffen the resolve of this nation. we are still the freest most blessed nation in this treasured

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welcome back to a special edition of "american morning." we are live in tampa ahead of tonight's cnn tea party debate. eight candidates are trying to convince the grass roots here around cross the country that they've got the solutions that this country needs, and one thing you are hearing from

everyone is that the canned responses are simply not going to cut it. joining me now is the chair of the tea party express, amy kramer. amy, good morning. good to see you here. this is a big deal. this is a -- a big -- it's not a coming out. you've been on the road a long time, but to some degree it's a coming out of the tea party to the larger republican fold and a turning point in this campaign. >> it's a testament to the power of the movement. we know the -- we are going to choose the next republican nominee. we are not going to accept what the republican party hands us, and what people need to understand is we are not here to send a republican to washington. we want to send a conservative to washington. >> all right. you've you're going to choose the next republican nominee. that's quite likely to be true. does that mean you're going to choose the next president of the united states? >> i think so.

we cannot continue this out of jobs and spending. >> we've seen a number of things play out here. we've seen michele bachmann talking about getting rid of the epa. we've seen rick perry talk about ben bernanke. we've heard from ron paul about getting rid of the federal reserve and the gold standard. we've talked around a lot of things that don't have anything to do with jobs. how do you refocus everybody's energy into jobs? >> well, i think that, you know, these candidates go out and talk about social issues, foreign policy and other things we do not focus on. we are focused on the fiscal issues. when people go to the poll, that's what they're voting on. it is about getting americans back to work, paying down our debt and deficit. having a balanced budget.

washington should live with their means just like small families and business shos live with their means. that's what we'll be focused on and if the candidates are smart they'll come here and tell us their ideas and solutions to create an environment where businesses will create jobs instead of cisco systems sitting on a $2 billion surplus and cutting 50% of their workforce. >> we saw jon huntsman come out with a jobs plan. mitt romney come out with a remarkedly detailed one, 69 pages long. when you had a chance to evaluate, is that the detection you would like to see the candidates go? >> we would like to hear from all of them. we're looking forward to the field narrowing down to be laser focused on the issues to determine who is the candidate that's going to do this. you're not ready to make that call right now? >> no, we're not ready to make that call. the field needs to narrow and it's still early. i'm not sure all the players are on the field yet. >> talk about the ones who are in plus a couple others. a brand new poll that came out

moments ago. amongst republicans, amongst tea party supporters, rick perry -- we've got the tea party on left and all republicans on the right. rick perry leading everyone. amongst all republicans, a narrower gap. romney and perry not in the race, neck and neck and then ron paul and michele bachmann so key and central to this tea party movement isn't in the top five. >> what i say, perry's come in just recently, and i think a lot of these candidates when they get in, they automatically have this bump. but michele bachmann has gone through a few bumps in the road over the past couple weeks, but that's not to say she's out of it. look back at 2008, john mccain was out of it and had no money. anything can happen. these candidates need to be on their a game. that's what we're looking for. >> who has the most to gain or lose tonight? i. think they all have a lot to gain or lose. especially lose.

we're 14 months away, essentially. we need to start narrowing this down. we want to see who has the ideas and solutions to turn the economy around, get us back on the track of prosperity. >> we're foleying this very clo -- following this very closely, are you. if those that are not, how do you explain this? >> we're the tea party express, we've done the bus tour, the only group that has put our money where our mouth is and got behind candidates to support them, because we believe that we're truly going to effect change. we're going to do it at the ballot box. you have to change your players. that's what we're about and focused on. >> thanks so much for being with us. amy kremer, the chair of the tea party express. carol? >> thanks, ali. now it's your turn to "talk back." the question today, will rick perry stand on social security for his campaign? the issue of social security any

a president's campaign? i'd like to rephrase that. how important are elderly voters say, in, florida to winning a president. election. you'll hear about this in tonight's cnn's tea party debate now that rick perry has called social security a ponzi scheme. >> it is a monstrous lie, it is a ponzi scheme to tell our kids that are 25 or 30 years today, you paying into a program that's going to be there. anybody that's for the status quo with social security today is involved with a monstrous lie to our kids, and it's not right. >> but, although saying social security needs fixing it has enough to pay full retirement benefits for the next 25 years and 77% for 60 years after that.

republican rick perry's remarks are out of line. >> toxic in a republican line and in a republican primary. if you say social securitisy a failure and ought to be replaced by a state-level program people will say, what do you mean by that and make a judgment based on your answer to it. >> but other conservatives like cnn contributor eric erickson are applauding perry's straight talk. social security is sick, he says, and besides, in 2010, running in wisconsin, then candidate ron johnson campaigned aggressively on social security being a ponzi scheme, and he beat incumbent russ feingold. so the "talk back" question today -- will rick perry's stance on social security hurt his campaign? facebook.com/americanmorning. i'll read your comments later this hour. coming up, serena williams loses her cool just before she suffered a huge upset at the u.s. open. she called an official a hater. that's not all. we're going to play it for you, ahead.

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welcome back to "american morning" now. "minding your business" this morning, fears in europe put u.s. markets down friday. the dow, nasdaq and s&p all lost more than 2%. those fears ar greece and europe persisted over the weekend. right now u.s. stock futures are again trading sharply lower ahead of the opening bell. world markets are down sharply in asia and europe overnight. fears about greece defaulting on its debt, the fears group over the weekend despite saying they would stay in the european union. more protests and strikes are expected across greece today after a new property tax was introduced on saturday. here in a few hours bank of america ceo brian moynihan will speak at an investor conference in new york city, expected to

detail future restructuring plans for the bank, and that restructuring is expected to mean big job losses. some reports say the bank could cut up to 40,000 jobs and close maybe as many as 600 branch locations as part of those plans. bank of america has not commented officially on any of those reports. we'll know at 9:00 a.m. gas prices edging higher. the national average for a gallon of gas is up six cents in the past two weeks. up about $1 from a year ago. "american morning" will be right back after this quick break. [ female ] we will always be dependent on foreign oil.

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just about half past the hour. good morning to you. it's time for this morning's top stories -- a brand new cnn orc poll shows texas governor rick perry is way ahead of the gop field now. perry pulling at 30% nationwide easily beating mitt romney at 18%. the candidates get to chip away at his comments on social security at the cnn tea party debate in tampa. today president obama sends his $447 billion jobs package to congress. before lawmakers get their hands on the bill, he will press them to pass the jobs act when he speaks at the rose garden this morning. and troops injured in a taliban truck bombing on saturday, the eve of the 9/11 anniversary. at least two afghan civilians were killed in that attack. carol, that cnn orc poll

that just cake out, we'll be talking about that over the course of the next couple of hour. interesting the lead that perry has over the rest of the candidates amongst tea party identified republicans. amongst the entire republican crowd, mitt romney's much closer to him in that debate. that's going to be interesting and make tonight's debate particularly interesting for the eight candidates presenting themselves. could be a defining moment for these two men who most people consider the front-runners. texas governor rick perry and mitt romney tangled last week when perry referred to social security as a ponzi scheme. cnn's john king asked vice president biden if rick perry has a point. >> one of their debates, governor perry says if you look at statistics, come 2036, social security's paying out more than its paying in, therefore, he said, it can keep its promises so it's a ponzi scheme. is social security a ponzi scheme?

>> no, it's not a ponzi scheme. go back and find out who ponzi was, an individual, a different deal, but, no, it's not a ponzi scheme. it is secured through 2036. >> be sure to watch john king's exclusive interview with vice president biden tonight at 7:00 before you watch the debate here on cnn. don't miss the debate tonight. the cnn tea party debate is live from tampa, florida, where i am. the site of the 2012 republican national convention. wolf blitzer is your moderator. it's tonight at 8:00 p.m. eastern and we will be live, of course, here again tomorrow morning with all of the postgame. christine romans in new york. >> all right. good morning, ali. here in new york we're following new details of bank of america's dramatic restructuring plan. according to the "wall street journal" that bank may soon eliminate up to 40,000 positions. we don't know the number for sure. we will know at 9:00 when the ceo of that company has an investor briefing.

we're tracking all the latest developments. what are you learning about how big this could be for b of a? a poster child, isn't it? it got so big, bought countrywide, all this mortgage exposure and now is in trouble? >> the largest bank in terms of lending and commercial deposits. a number of people that actually invest in bank of america, in those terms. we're hearing this morning, brian moynihan, the ceo of the company, is going to make an announcement as an investor conference, and allegedly going to announce there are going to be 40,000 layoffs. the reason he needs to do this is to stay ahead of the curve. what he is basically doing is staying ahead of the news. so he has to announce these layoffs -- excuse me. something is caught in my throat. >> you're upset about the bank of america. >> and i'll make a quick point. the stock has been hammered.

below $7 a share now. >> down 48% this year. >> investors are very concerned. not fancy hedge fund managers, all of us, because you probably have bank of america in a lot of mutual funds in your 401(k). >> exactly. he's trying to restructure the company because it had such major, major losses, because they acquired kntwid ed country cetera. 750 branch closings. that's huge, across the country. imagine? >> that affects employees in your hometown. >> consumer, everybody. >> what will the ripple effect be? how will this affect me? in the wider market i'm talking about? >> if you're a bank of america customer you won't be able to find branches as easily. costs will probably go up, because they had to reduce the number of people working for them, and obviously, it's going to affect the entire banking industry. what we're really talking about is that the financial restructuring going on throughout the world.

we're talking about now looking at french banks and italian banks and swiss banks as whether or not they actually can shore up and make deposits clean, and that's a problem. i mean, there's definitely a concern as to whether or not these banks can stand on their own two feet, and if they have exposure to any kind of european debt, whether or not they're going to be able be toll disso it. >> new information about an american kidnapped in pakistan. a senior police official tells cnn the american stopped in the city of kena, taken away at gunpoint. it is not clear who the kidnappers are. a full out search launched. we'll bring you more information as we get in. to the texas wildfires now finally coming under control. the worst may be over. 50% of the blaze is now contained, but the nightmare

just beginning for so many. 1,500 homes destroyed, burned to the ground. six people are still missing this morning. residents of four subdivisions are finally being let back into their homes, and more neighborhoods will open up throughout the week. >> so we're hoping for rain, maybe, for texas? cooler temperatures, maybe, for texas? so the rest of that fire can be wiped out. rob, the man with the answers. >> there is hope there. i'm not sure how much that will verify. temperatures hot. check it out. 100 degrees plus in dallas. on the heels of the warmest summer on record for these folks and second warmest for the u.s. nate, my friend, something to attach. dead in new mexico. didn't happen. and maria north of puerto rico, likely will take a turn similar to katia, by the way, about to slam into scotland. bermuda may be affected by maria here. the u.s. will not be. in part because of this cool

front which is going to drop temperatures, 20, 30 bo degrees across the northern tier in the north u.s. helping push maria out to sea. fairly quiet across much of the east coast. temperatures warm, as mentioned, across the south. 86 degrees in chicago. today's delays expected in chicago because of the wind ahead of that front, afternoon thunderstorms in boston, detroit and miami and a little wind in denver. cooling down. it's fall. >> thanks, rob. a rematch as the u.s. men's final in new york city. novak djokovic versus number two rafael nadal. on the women's side, serena williams losing her cool again on the court. >> you're totally out of control. you're a hater and you're just -- unattractive inside. >> during the men's final ripped

into the chair and eventually lost the match and tournament title. samantha stosser. i asked her a couple years, a famous meltdown on the court, and she said that she and her sister both play with great -- >> passion. >> yes! it's part of the way she plays. she's so into it. >> after the match she couldn't remember what she yelled at the umpire. hard to believe, but that's what she said. we'll get way into that in the 7:00 hour of "american morning." just ahead, rick perry building a big lead and voters really think he is the one that can beat president obama. breaking down the brand new polls ahead of the cnn tea party debate, it's 37 mast the hour. ♪ [ multiple snds ng melodic tune ] ♪ [ malennounc ] at northrop grumman,

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welcome back to a special edition of "american morning." we're live in tampa, ahead of tonight's cnn tea party debate. the new guy in the race, the new leader in the polls, rick perry. the old front-runner mitt romney could be on a collision course tonight. joining me now is cnn deputy political director paul steinhauser. my good friend, paul.

brand new polls that just aim o came out in the last hour. all i can tell you, mitt romney comes out in the top of all of them. start with the big one where these candidates stand in the public opinion. >> you got it. take a look. did this poll over the weekend. this poll was done after, after the president's debate last wednesday, rick perry's first debate. look who's on top of the poll. once again, rick perry. 30% of republicans independents saying they want him. romney in second. where he's been lately. one thing of note, look at michele bachmann. remember how high up she was somewhere she has dropped. >> below gingrich. 34 te in terms of what polling has shown us about the field of gop and tea party supporters, something herman cain and michele bachmann enjoyed. low numbers but committed followers. >> great point. break the poll down. the first-ever cnn tea party

debate. break it down by tea party supporters and non-tea party supporters. check out the numbers when you do that. rick perry, a huge number between people who identify with tai partiers. >> more than double mitt romney. >> the other side, people who are not tea party supporters but republicans. perry is dead even with romney and palin. interesting matchup. the lead amongst tea partier, among others, still doing well as well. >> i talked to amy kremer who said, we are likely to pick the next republican nominee. that's quite possible. can they pick the next president of the united states? >> that electability is the huge issue here, ali. three out of four republicans in the poll say they want a nominee who can beat barack obama. they don't agree on allal issues. who is that person? mitt romney is making the case. you may not agree with me, but i'm the one that can beat barack

obama. check out the polls. they say perry is that guy, not romney. 42%. >> it is september the 12th, 2011, which means the election is more than a year away. >> four years ago rudy giuliani was leading the republican poll. was he the nominee? i don't think so. things change. >> amy kremer saying she'd like to see the field narrow. but there's some possibility that the field could widen. >> yeah. one person -- palin, alaska former governor. >> what are you hearing about chris christie? >> he keeps saying, fuhgedaboudit, effefuhgedaboudi coming up in the 8:00 eastern hour, we'll speak to two of the gop candidates onstage tonight. herman cain, who you saw in our poll, polling at about 5%. hear what he has to say.

remarkable appeal among his consistent supporters and jon huntsman, former governor of utah, former ambassador to china. strong views on energy, on exporting. he's got a jobs plan out there. we'll talk to him about all of that. back to new york with christine and carol. >> and endorsed by the "wall street journal." >> he might be the dark horse, ali. you just don't know. >> thanks, ali. it's 45 minutes past the hour. a quick look at the day's top stories straight ahead. >> and the it's fashion week in new york city, and that means runways and red carpets and really, really, really expensive clothes. coming up next, an interview with arguably the most popular and sought-after designer in the entire united states right now. it's 44 past the hour. [ man ] behind every business is a "what if."

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it's 46 minutes past the hour. what you need to know to start your day. a brand new cnn orc poll shows that texas governor rick perry is building a big lead in the gop race. perry pulling at 30% nationwide, easily boating mitt romney who comes in at 18%. president obama sends his $447 billion jobs package to congress tonight. this afternoon he'll tell lawmakers to pass this plan again as a rose garden event at the white house. bank of america may cut as many as maybe 40,000 jobs as part of its restructuring plan according to the "wall street journal."

the bank is also reportedly planning to close a number of branches. maybe hundreds, as a way to increase profits about a slew of mortgage-related losses and a slowing economy. authorities in british columbia are searching for a man they say kidnapped this 3-year-old boy last week and returned lihim to his home on sunday. officials say the boy appears to be in good health. that's the news you need to start your day. "american morning" is back right after this.

we asked you to "talk back" on what are the big stories of the day? the question this morning, will rick perry's stance on social security hurt his campaign?

this from hadaya. >> yes. if he does not clean up his clang, too many people need social security and medicare. they need improvement, not abolishment. >> and from paul, yes, it will. i depend on it for everything. i will not vote for perry if he's the nominee. even though he says those on social security will not be affected, i don't believe him. anyone who thinks the way he feels about social security is likely to do anything. >> and from joseph, rick perry is not the answer. i don't see one person who is the answer. rick perry stands on everything that will hurt his campaign. keep them coming. facebook/americanmorning. we'll read your thoughts later on. fashion week in new york city. that means fasionistas everyonewhere clamoring to get a peek at the latest 2012 trends walking the runway to wear next spring. >> i'm wearing beautiful banana republic. >> i know.

wearing beautiful circa 2003 trends. the fashion world does have a reputation for being fickle. >> hot today, haggard tomorrow. going on two decades now and things are only looking up from here. alina cho sat down with fashion legend mark jacobs in a rare interview. good for you. >> thank you. >> haven't seen a lot of interviews. >> he doesn't do a lot. his press representatives say it doesn't matter how much i push. he does it his way and i mean, that's part of the reason why he's so successful, if you think about it. whether it's a bag or a shoe or a dress, he really does have the midas touch, after working on this more than a year, i am happy to say i did recently get an exclusive look at mark jacobs and his design time. what inspires him and why he has so many tattoos, 33 tos exact, and why he's now wearing pencil skirts. >> what? >> for the first time, what is

the most coveted job in fashion. the ones insiders say could soon be his. >> reporter: you see his name everywhere. the creative genius behind a half billion dollar empire. the creative director of louis vuitton. at 48, mark jacobs has won nearly every award in fashion. including the industry's highest for lifetime achievement just this year. >> incredible validation for you. >> yeah, but a lifetime is something that feels very final and i certainly don't feel my lifetime is over, certainly hope it's not and hope it's only halfway started. >> reporter: he may be right. the biggest rumor off the runway is word mark jacobs is in line for one of the most coveted jobs in design. creative director of famed french fashion house christian dior. >> yeah, it would be an honor. i mean, there's no question that

the two grace powerhouses are chanel and dior. a hard thing to turn down. >> dior has been without a designer since the company fired john galiano for making anti-semitic comments. jacobs says he doesn't think about the future. his focus is on the present. >> one day at at time? >> one hour, one second at a time. >> reporter: an obsession that started at 15. a stock boy at a hot new york city boutique. overnight he was selling his own designs. then designing for perry ellis. in the early '90s he started his own label and created a sensation when he reinterpreted grunge for the runway. marc jacobs had arrived. >> i instinctively react to things that stimulate me. >> such it's a -- >> well, i mean, could be anything. things that have affected me in the past couple of months. the weather has affected me.

>> reporter: amy winehouse. >> the death of amy winehouse, and moving into my new place. >> reporter: a perfectionist. >> muck up the sides and put a pocket. >> reporter: famous for working right up until showtime. >> to me, it doesn't really matter. if it's a day, a week before the show. if it's before the show, it's before the show. >> former drug addict with 33 tattoos and a certain fondness for -- skirts? >> i like wearing skirts. i like wearing kilts. it started like a few years ago. i moved from kilts into pencil skirts. i wear now mostly broad lly pr. i like to do things that make me feel good and happy but don't hurt other people. >> reporter: a man on and off the runway has done it his way and yet is never satisfied. >> i'm always -- i'm a total nervous wreck all the time or most of the time.

i'm always questioning my choices and -- >> reporter: you are? >> yeah. but -- and i don't think there's anything wrong with that. i don't think that's a negative thing. >> what a joy to sit down with him. you know, if you think about it, questioning himself that is the mark of a great designer. jacobs, well, he does take it to another level. recently when hurricane irene blew through here, few on his design team make it to work. he lost several days. what did he do? changed the date of his show from monday to thursday, as only marc jacobs can. think about it, more than 250 designer shows during fashion week. tightly scheduled. for marc jacobs to change his show is a very big deal. it was a huge headline in womenswear daily, but he does it his way and that's what he felt he needed to do to get done and the way he wanted to get it done. >> that big company, dior, keep both companies?

keep it running? >> a big challenge. moves between paris and new york. a mega fashion designer owns louis vuitton, christian dior and marc jacobs. the deal isn't done, but look for it, perhaps, in the future. >> sounds like synergy to me, as they say in my world. >> his designs -- >> you and i, a pencil skirt for your husband? >> i'm sure my husband would love that. here's my marc jacobs. >> a new look. >> giving you an inside look into fashion design all this week. tomorrow morning, the world of men's fashion. believe it or not, men menswear growing at a faster pace than womenswear. that's just in north america alone. asking a question to menswear mogul tommy hilfiger. >> i wonder if wives and girlfriend are buying the

clothes for the men or men are buying for themselves? >> a little of both. >> i buy all of my husband's cloth clothes. >> do you? >> he does it all. >> i envy you. we'll be back. >> so, ah, your seat good?

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bank of america could soon slash its work force. we'll tell you why and what jobs are said to be on the chopping block. >> ten years after the twin towers fell, the world trade center memorial opens to the public today. plus, planning an attack on new york and washington. >> there's never been a debate like this in president's politic. tonight live on cnn, gop candidates face-off in front of the tea party. a crucial test in a key state. will rick perry add to his lead? will michele bachmann be able to get off the sidelines? williams get angry, then she gets upset. her latest outburst and stunning loss at the american open.

this, on "american morning." good morning to you. happy monday it is september 12th. i'm carol costello. >> i'm christine romans. >> and i'm ali velshi in tampa. welcome to this special split edition of "american morning." live here in florida for tonight's tea party debate, and more on that just ahead. christine? >> first, a massive shake-up expected to be announced in a couple of hours by one of the nation's biggest banks. the biggest bank in the country. bank of america expected to lay out a restructuring plan that will no doubt affect thousands of employees and even more customers. not saying anything ahead of its ceo, who will speak at 9:00 to investors in new york, but everyone bracing for a big restructuring meaning job cuts. >> we've been hearing about this for some time. allegedly the number's going to be possibly between 30,000 and 40,000. clearly, a lot of employees that are at stake in this. it will happen over a number of years. it's not going to happen right away. it's going to take some time,

but there's allegedly some word they're going to have branch closings as well, but we'll hear from brian moynihan at the 9:00 conference that's going to happen today in new york. >> so i mean, 30,000 to 40,000 jobs is pretty darn serious, but give us the bigger picture. put it in perspective for us. >> it means obviously, the bank has been going through restructuring for some time. they acquired merrill lynch, countrywide financial, mbna, having to absorb a number of entities themselves. what they've got to do is now make sure they're company is efficient. and that's what's going to happen in terms of the next couple of years. how they're going to restructure the company and become what bank of america would like to be, which is -- it still is one of the largest lenders out will, but it's fighting for that position with wells fargo. >> for those that have money in bank of america, what does it mean? >> well, i mean, your money is

still safe. nobody has to worry about that. obviously, your money is still safe, but it may be more difficult to access banking. but they're looking at, you know, streamlining their processes in terms of doing things more online. not having as many actual, you know, atms next to each other. things like that. >> you've seen in recent years how you can see -- you have several b of a choices in new york. maybe you don't need so many branches. >> maybe you don't. i mean, maybe this isn't such a bad thing. they may be doing something that's more efficient and at the end more cost effective. so we'll see how it -- >> stock down 40%. >> 48%. >> telling you investors have been screaming that something has to be done by the way this company does business. >> thanks. >> talk about another screamer. that will happen tonight at florida. take it away, ali. >> yeah. hi, ali. >> listen we are live here at the florida state fairgrounds in

tampa. the site of tonight's big tea party debate. eight republican candidates onstage tonight with many analysts calls this a two-person race. a new cnn orc poll released just an hour ago shows that rick perry is building an even larger lead. jim acosta joins me now. jim, a lot happening today. we're going to see whether rick perry can keep that lead. whether mitt romney is really going to sort of try and take a piece out of him and what happens to michele bachmann in this. she seems to have been losing some traction? >> right. the debate comes as not every candidate in the gop is on the tea party bus. one candidate is in the driver's seat, rick perry, and others trying to get onboard. texas governor rick perry has ditched his cowboy boots for running shoes staying far ahead of the republican pack. the latest cnn orc poll finds perry out in front with 30%. nearest rival mitt romney at 18%. with the rest of the field looking to play catch-up, the

cnn tea party debate in florida could be a social security smackdown in a state where the program is crucial to seniors. >> it is a ponzi scheme to tell our kids that are 25 or 30 years old today, you paying into a program that's going to be there. >> reporter: after perry doubled down on his call for an overall of social security at the last debate, romney pounced. >> the governor says states ought to be able to opt out of social security. our nominee has to be someone who isn't committed to abolishing social security. >> reporter: michele bachmann. ied on. >> i think america needs to keep its promise to senior citizens. i talk to them all the time. i love senior citizens. >> you usually don't start a presidential campaign by setting grandma's hair on fire. that's what rick perry did when he called social security a ponzi scheme, he implied he might undo it if he could go back 75 years. >> reporter: indicating where the gop is headed. a more conservative tea party

candidate like perry or more moderate contenders like romney. the former massachusetts governor stepped up after poll numbers started sagging. >> are you a member of the tea party? >> i don't think you carry cards in the tea party. >> reporter: some republicans say there's good reason for caution. perry's doubts about climate change might appeal to tea party voters. >> just because you have a group of scientist whose stood up and said here is a fact. galileo got outvoted for a spell. >> reporter: centrists like jon huntsman worry those could alienate republican voters and cost republicans the white house. >> in order for the republican party to win, we can't run from science. >> reporter: one of the fascinating things to watch at tonight's debate is going to be the fact we're going to have tea party knts asking questions. brewing up trouble, could, for folks mike like mitt romney.

and jon huntsman and mccain who just want to sit at the table. >> jon huntsman talking to us later in the show, in about an hour. we'll discuss this plans. herman cain, solid support from his supporters but not been able to grow that. jon huntsman plan got endorsed by the "wall street journal" but he's still stuck in the lowest of single digits. >> the question for jon huntsman is he the candidate for this republican moment right now? this is very much a tea party moment. why folks like rick perry are doing so well. the question for candidates like jon huntsman is, is this your time? >> and then the question of whether the candidates who do the best with the tea party are able to be the ones who can do the best as republican candidates? we'll talk to a couple. >> can they beat barack obama? >> can they beat barack obama. we'll talk about that. rick perry and mitt romney sure to tangle again over the social security issue we just talked about. cnn's john king asked vice president joe biden if rick

perry has a point when he refers to social security as a ponzi scheme. >> in one of their debates governor perry said if you look at the statistics from 203, social security's paying out more that its paying in, come 2036, it's a ponzi skim? >> no, it's not a ponzi scheme. ponzi was an individual, and a different deal. no, it's not a ponzi scheme. it is secure through 2036 and to fix it is not hard. >> be sure to catch the rest of john king's interview with vice president biden tonight at 7:00 p.m., which is the pregame, really, to the debate, right here on cnn. carol? talk more about social security, shall we, ali? your turn to "talk back." the question, will rick perry's stance on social security hurt his campaign? how important is the issue of social security in a presidential campaign?

let me rephrase that. how important are elderly voters in, say, oh, florida, to winning a presidential election? really, really important. you will hear about social security any tonight's cnn tea party debate now that rick perry has called social security a ponzi scheme. >> it is a monstrous lie. it is a ponzi scheme to tell our kids that are 25 or 30 years old today you paying into a program that's going to be there. anybody that's for the status quo with social security today is involved with a monstrous lie to our kids, and it's not right. >> but although economists say social security needs a fixin', social security has enough money to pay full retiree benefits for the next 25 years, and 77% of benefits for 60 years after that. even republican guru karl rove says perry's ponzi remarks are out of line. >> they're toxic in a general

election environment and also toxic in a republican primary. if you say social security is a failure and ought to be replaced by a state-level program, people are going to say washgs do you mean by that? and make a judgment based on your answer to it. >> but other conservatives, like cnn contributor eric erickson are applauding perry's straight talk. he said social security is sick and besides in 2010, then candidate ron johnson campaigned aggressively on social security being a ponzi scheme, and he beat incumbent russ feingold. so the "talk back" question today, will rick perry's stance on social security hurt his campaign? facebook.com/americanmorning. i'll read your comments later this hour. and, also, do not miss it tonight. the cnn tea party debate live from tampa, florida, the site of the 2012 republican national convention. wolf blitzer is your moderator. the debate starts tonight, 8:00 eastern right here. and perry wrote an op-ed in

"usa today" talking about we have to have straight talk but never really laying out how to fix it. still out in talking about social security. he did not call it a ponzi scheme in this article, but there you go. it's been a long time coming. too long coming. today's the national september 11th memorial is opening to the public for the very first time. it's still an active construction site. visitors will need to secure reserve passes in advance to be allowed in. thousands of requests have already been processed. the national september 11th museum is expected to open at ground zero one year from right now. investigators are continuing their search for a terrorist who may be planning attacks. sources telling cnn they're still conducting security checks following up on credible but unconfirmed leads about as many as three potential attackers who could be trying to use vehicle bombs to strike new york or washington. also developing this morning, we're hearing from sources that an american who was kidnapped in pakistan has been

released. a senior police official told cnn the american and a pakistani were stopped in the city of quetta and taken away at gunpoint. still not clear who the kidnappers were. we'll continue to bring you more information as we get it. the american said to have been released this morning. >> that's a good thing. texas wildfires finally coming under control. the worst may be over. 50% of the blaze now contained, but the nightmare, of course, just beginning for so many. 1,500 homes burned to the ground. six people still missing. residents of four subdivisions are finally being let back into their homes. more neighborhoods expected to open up throughout the week. so let's head to atlanta and rob marciano. no relief for texans, but a little better. >> not for a few days but coming on the heels of a report from noaa, this was the second warmest summer on record for the entire u.s. and the warmest for

texas, new mexico, louisiana and new mexico. and other spots seeing dry weather as pewell. >> 104 expected in austin. a cool down towards the end of the week. until then, kind of hot. remember this? in mexico, it's caputh. none of that moisture getting into texas. maria, tropical storm 150 mile north of puerto rico, taking a pass similar to katia. nay affect bermuda. katia now is approaching northern ireland with some big time winds. it's going to be slamming into the northern part of the uk here over the next day or two. this front will help push away maria. it will also drive down cooler air. so this hot will be short lived. probably see a little in the way of cool weather towards the end of the week. by the way, la nina returned. didn't really go anywhere. it's one of the reasons we had

the tea mutt chtumultuous weath winter. expect driving conditions across the south. wetter conditions in the ohio valley much like last year. a crazy hurricane season now potentially a repeat of what we saw last fall. meanwhile, in tampa, ali, a little steamy this morning, but lovely, none the less. >> hello, rob. i don't know that the black three-piece suit was really the best of planning. >> you left the see suckrsucker home? >> the seersucker is in atlanta. if i'm hanging around here, i need something other than that. >> when you say jump, i say how high, ali. i'll get right on that, buddy. >> rob good to see you. coming up, i am in tampa, as rob said. tea party voters are saying talking points will not cut it

tonight. the lines that could make or break a candidate tonight. two guest whose know a lot about this. we'll be talking to them rye after this break. stay with us. ♪ ♪ ♪ when the things that you need ♪ ♪ come at just the right speed, that's logistics. ♪ ♪ medicine that can't wait legal briefs there by eight, ♪ ♪ that's logistics. ♪ ♪ freight for you, box for me box that keeps you healthy, ♪ ♪ that's logistics. ♪ ♪ saving time, cutting stress, when you use ups ♪ ♪ that's logistics. ♪

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welcome back. we're live in tampa ahead of tonight's cnn tea party debate and new poll showing texas governor rick perry is out with a big lead. the tea party may about huge reason for that. joining me now, cnn contributor dana lash, the founder of the st. louis tea party and cnn political contributor alex. good to see you both. >> good morning. >> good morning. >> let's talk about this, alex, we got into this about the debt ceiling about the issue of jobs. while the tea party and republicans have done a remarkably effective job starting from before the last midterm elections in convincing

americans the debt is the most important problem, we have come back to the fact that the failure to create jobs in this country on a consistent basis it going to be a more important from here until the election. we have only heard from a few of these candidates. a good jobs plan. are they going to be under pressure tonight to put them forward? >> under pressure to talk about jobs, explain what they do, but what defines these voters is not the solution, jobs. it's what they think the problem is. which is washington. there's a lot of anti-washington anger here. they see washington as a -- as a corrosive force sucking the life out of the economy. washington's doing well, but america's not. so that's what perry's doing. he's connecting with that anger you see in that room. it's how to you selleck said drin? you don't sell excedrin, you sell the problem. that's what you'll see tonight. >> and dana, i was talking to

andy kramer who says the could well decide the republican party. a brand new poll from cnn corporation, giving rick perry a remarkable lead. on the left of your screen you see the approvals with tea party supporters. on the right it is all republicans. look at that. even with the tea party, rick perry has a remarkable, almost double, over what romney is getting. sarah palin not in the race is coming in at third. ron paul -- michele bachmann's nowhere on that list. comes in at 4% on both sides. whether amogg tea party supporters or among all others. republicans generally on the right side of the screen, the lead that perry has over romney is tighter and romney and palin are neck and neck. give me a sense of what you make of this. >> well, it's a very interesting poll in that even with the tea party with this particular poll, bachmann isn't in the top three or four. that's incredibly -- >> we associate her so closely

with the tea party? >> history is typically prejudice from candidates who don't come from the gubernatorial poll. i don't know how much plays into that. i'm looking at a particular candidate, measuring up executive experience. i like bachmann, i think she has a good record. ultimately it comes down to who has the executive experience. maybe than has something to do with this particular poll. interesting in that perry leads in both the tea party and republican perspectives. incredibly interesting. what he's going to have to continue to do, obviously, keep that lead over romney. romney is nipping at his heels and romney does better with republicans. he's not a tea party -- there isn't really a tea party candidate but he's definitely not a tea party candidate. the last debate he said identify a lot with what the tea party stands for. grass roots picked up on that. a lot of the things? >> that becomes tricky.

a lot of the things tea party stands for, certainly the most newsworthy, are not the things some republicans and plain fiscal conservatives stand for. at what point does that start to parch itself out? >> right now nothing united states the people like a threat from mars. the biggest threat in the republican party and among tea party voters is the economy. and the concern that america is in economic decline. we're going to leave our children something less of a country. >> is that going to start to squeeze out the more divisive social issues that some parts of the tea party are involved in? >> i don't think anyone -- i'm not saying that attention to social issues is irrelevant or these issues are somewhat unimportant, but right now that's not going to pay the bills or put food on the table. people are focused on the economy. it comes down to jobs, to easing up on regulations and baggickin

off the market and allowing businesses to do what they do best. create job, add to the tax base, increase revenue. >> if you had a slogan for a candidate coming out of this survey you'd say, if you fix washington, america can achieve anything. we can grow again. that's the candidate voters are looking for. the other thing the survey tells you, if last election was hope and change, this one is about strength and certainty. americans feel the economy, the country, is coming apart. >> right. >> and rick perry, texas directness. you may agree or disagree, but you respect that he's -- knows who he is, know what's he believes. that seems to contrast fairly well at this point with mitt romney who voters don't seem to be certain he he is and who he's for. >> who are you watching closely tonight? >> i'm watching perry. looking to see whether or not he's going to be as strong in defending his stanchions as he is on offense. he had really weak answers last debate. if he's going to solidify

himself, he needs to give better answers. >> in 30% -- >> not a bad problem to have. >> michele bachmann is the one to watch tonight. if she can take wind out of perry's sail, this back to being a competitive race. >> alex, dana. great to see you. we'll watch tonight with you. carol, christine? >> thanks, ali. just ahead on "american morning" a stunner at the u.s. open and what could be a match for the ages on the men's side today. we're going to talk to "sports illustrated" about one of the most action packed sports weekends of the year. we know your toddlers love their gadgets. a school in maine is giving ipads to each of its kindergartens saying educational software on the ipad could help teach students how to read, but is this the best way to do it? more on this story later.

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welcome back to "american morning." now "minding your business." fears about the debt crisis in europe pushed u.s. markets down on friday. the dow, nasdaq and s&p lost more than 2%. this morning u.s. future, trading sharply lower again ahead of the opening bell. why? because the world markets are

down sharply in both asia and europe overnight. fears about greece potentially defaulteding on its debt, those fears grew over the weekend. despite reassurances from the greek prime minister the country would work out its debt problems and stay in the european union, markets are skittish and not really believing that. more protests and xrik strikes expected in greece after a new property tax was introduced saturday. waiting for word mohow many jobs will be cut at bank of america. the ceo is expected to talk about restructuring for the bank. some reports say it could cut up to 40,000 jobs, close as many as 600 bank locations as part of the plans. bank of america will not comment officially on these reports. gas prices edging higher in the national average for a gallon of gas up 6 cents in the past two weeks. up a $1 from a year ago.

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were back to tampa, the site of tonight's cnn see it party debate. here's a quick look at top stories. a brand new cnn orc poll shows the texas governor rick perry is leading the field of current gop candidates. perry's polling at 30% nationwide. mitt romney following at 18%. the 9/11 memorial services are over but investigators are still searching for terrorist whose may be planning attacks. sources telling cnn they're still conducting security checks and following up on leads about as many as three potential attackers who could be trying to

use vehicle bombs to strike new york or washington, d.c. former international mont tear fund chief dominique strauss-kahn questioned by french police about the alleged attempted rape of a writer according to one of his lawyers. he returned to paris last month after the sexual assault kate involving a made in a new york city hotel was dropped. back to christine in new york. talking about tampa in the next segment. looks like rick perry is gaining real traction in the race for the white house. in the latest cnn orc poll, republican voters were asked which gop candidate is most likely to get the economy moving. perry coming out on top with 35%. wow. the texas governor at 35%. 26% selecting mitt romney. ron paul, sarah palin, way down the list. talk about the poll numbers and what the economy might look like under a president perry. joined by the chief political

strategist with potomac research group live in washington. good morning. >> hi, christine. how are you? >> great this morning. happy monday. >> thank. >> it looks as though republican voters think that perry has got whatever it takes to get more confidence for him in the economy? >> so far it's mid-september of 2011. >> yes, it is. >> there's a long, long, long, long way to go and perry still has to define himself and clarify a lot of controversial things he said, but he's the "it" guy that has the sizzle right now, no question. >> the controversial statements, saying ben bernanke, in a campaign a few days ago, in a debate a few days ago called social security aponzi scheme. that's kicking up dust now for almost a week. >> i can understand why he said those things. a little bit of truth. bernanke hasn't been perfect. social security needs to be fixed, but there's an issue how reckless his rhetoric is and an

issue about his temperament. in my world, talking to institutional investors, there would be serious concern if the markets thought a politician would start meddling in monetary policy. >> talk about job creation. does perry have what it takes and the background to create jobs? you can see a population growing in texas that created nearly 40% of all new jobs in the country since the recession. does perry get credit for that? >> some, not all. the jury is out how much of it was his doing, just as i think you could argue that the mediocre job growth with mitt romney in massachusetts was attributable to other factors but it's an argument he's going to make, a case he's going to make and the country, i think, would listen to anybody who thinks they can create jobs, because we're not creating any now. >> who do you think wall street would want? would they want a perry presidency? would they want at more moderate

presidency like a romney president ji does it matter who else is on the ticket? >> no question in my mind, christine. it would be romney. the all chamber guy, pro-business, from the wall street community. bane capital, he understands wall street. his comments on bernanke was a little troubling but i think the markets clearly would root for romney over obama or over perry. and you've got say, again, it's september 12th in 2011. i think if the election were held tomorrow, a ticket of romney and say marco rubio of florida would be favored. >> would win over barack obama? >> yeah. if the election were held today i think so, yes. >> what about a perry ticket for the republicans? >> very unclear. i think -- i can guarantee you, christine that with the white house, they would be elated, ecstatic, if they got to run against perry, not romney. of course, jimmy carter's white house said that about ronald reagan and lived to regret it,

but i think the white house would love to run against perry. >> i can't have you and your vast knowledge about wall street and not ask what's happening overseas. looking at the euro zone. i mean, literally shaking to its core. worries about germany -- sorry. worries about germany and germany's worries about greece all of this a big problem in the markets overnight. this is going to be tumultuous next few weeks and months. isn't it? >> actually a very tumultuous day, christine. more and more unrest and resignation they may have to throw in the towel. angela merkel has been heroic trying to keep things together, her own voters are saying, german citizens, why reward these countries that can't get their act together? i think more and more smart people in europe are going to talk about booting greece out of the eu. i'm not sure that's enough, because french banks and others will be left holding huge debts. this is a bad story, and we haven't bottomed out yet. >> if you think it doesn't matter, look at your 401(k).

u.s. banks in there and everything happening in europe, our biggest, humongous trading partner. second biggest trading zone in the world. always nice to see you. potomac research group. come back soon. >> you bet. we asked you on "talk back" what are the big stories of the day and asked about rick perry. stands on social security. calm it is a ponzi scheme. chad, it will hurt him if it can't lay out a plan that will replace it. jody, anyone following our policies and elected officials knows the money bade to seniors is coming out of the taxes paid for our workers the month before. i for one would rather know the truth about what's going on. this from faye, rick perry correctly labeled social security as a ponzi scheme. i'm a senior from the baby boom generation and told in 1972 by a professor social security would not be there for those of our age group. seniors are politically astute to face reality. if perry is wrong, show us the

money. i don't think it will prevent his chances in the primary or general election. i must reiterate the truth. so you can have all of the information. social security has enough money to pay full retiree benefits for the next 25 years. baby boomers are going to be perfectly fine. it also has -- >> the professor was wrong? when he told her -- >> remember, in 1984 i was told as a young person social security wouldn't be here for me when i retired. so it's going to be. so they say a lot is politicians through the year. 77% of benefits for 60 years after that. so social security isn't in the greatest health. it needs fixing, but it's not dying. >> perry's point, any kind of investment that you made, thaw only got 76 cents back on the dollar, you wouldn't want to make that investment. that's his point, but it needs to be fixed. diane swank, a noted economist. easy to fix it. the problem is that politicians don't fix it. >> is it a ponzi scheme? >> is it a ponzi scheme by

definition? no. an investment vehicle. up know, a ponzi scheme is a financial scam. it wasn't set up to be a scam. a ponzi scam was a scam from the beginning. this wasn't a scam. this was a safety net. there's a difference. >> just so you know. just so you know. so i hope that -- faye, you're okay. keep your comments coming. facebook.com/americanmorning. more of your thoughts a bit later. >> doesn't mean it doesn't need to be fixed. just fix it. >> you're going to get your social security check. likely to pay a big part in tonight's debate. don't miss it. the cnn tea party debate live from tampa, florida. the republican national convention, wolf your moderator. that's tonight at 8:00 a.m. eastern. that was a very helpful discussion, because there is a difference between something that is not well managed that needs to be fixed and something that is a scam. >> ali, do you think social security is a ponzi scheme? >> no.

it's transparent. we know what the problem is. you're absolutely right, christine. both medicare and social security can be fixed. they're both fixable. it's like a mutual fund that doesn't perform well. doesn't make it a scam just because it didn't do the right thing. important distinctions a hard topic to get into but important. good to see you guys. still to come this morning -- are you going to -- am i supposed to be giving this back to carol? >> no. take it away. take it away. >> all right. we're going to be watching what happened at the u.s. open with serena williams. she lost her cool before she suffered a huge upset at the u.s. open. she called an official a "hater." that's not all. we'll tell you about that, too. and we may have found the coolest elementary school in the country pap free ipad for every kindergartner. the school says the giveaway is all in the name of education. we'll be right back. [ artis brown ] america is facing some tough challenges right now.

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42 minutes past the hour. welcome back to "american morning." it will be a rematch at the u.s. open men's final in new york today. number one djokovic versus nadal. yesterday on the women's side, though, serena lost. not only loftd, but lost her cool, again on the court.

>> if you ever see me walking down the street -- because you're out of control. you're a hater. >> ouch. joining us now, senior writer for spr for "sports illustrated." thank you for being here. before we get into serena williams, the u.s. open has been interesting so far. because on saturday, cyndi lauper sang the national anthem and got the words wrong. listen. ♪ or the ramparts we watched the flag was still streaming ♪ >> she said our flag was still streaming, which really aren't the lyrics. i think that the outfit was worse, though. >> like the super bowl all over again. >> much like christina aguilera. it's like, don't people

practice? >> every elementary school kid knows those lyrics. you get in front of the big stage, who knows. >> nerve-racking. i couldn't talk. i couldn't do it. back to serena williams. she yells at this umpire just like two years ago. still on probation for that incident. what might happen? >> we'll find out in the next few days. she's going to get a visit from the squad. it's mind-boggling. if you wake up defending serena williams you are a hard core serena williams fan. this was so out of line. already on double secret probation from two years ago. unfortunately, obscures a great performance, but serena and another outburst is what everybody is talking about. >> exactly. why does she do this? loses her temper? a natural thing? not thinking? so upset because she did so poorly in the match. >> she's going to be 32.

athletes do it all the time. psych themselves up. a hindrance move. it's a judgment call, not having a point removed. to say those things to an official, she let down her guard. insight how she's wired. it was not pretty. >> put it in perspective for us, because she did not play well. i mean, despite the temper tantrum, she didn't play well. but she had been, i know, and in better shape, lost all this weight. what does this say about her play in general? >> big picture, this is a real champion. one of the very, very rare champions of tennis. she does the easy thing. win. going for her 14th grand slam title, but offsets it with this behavior which is absolutely indefensible. athletes do this, again, in the heat of competition. an experience you and i will probably never know, but you've got to rein it in. especially two years after this ugly outburst on the very same

court. >> yeah. somebody sells on our staff, i won't mention her name, that serena williams was being taken to task in part because she's female, and if a male player had done this we wouldn't be talking about it in exactly the same way? >> boy, i mean, there's a sex component, a race component, but if you watch that video, i think it's pretty hard to defend. again, this is two years after this ugly outburst where it's a similar set of circumstance. unfortunate. she devoted, dedicated this match to 9/11 and yet sits there on the chair saying, like, come on. you've got to be serious. this is america. it was ugly stuff. >> so unattractive on the inside. >> like a high school -- if i see you coming down the hall, you better look away. 29 years old. i don't get it. >> you're a hater. that was the other one. i know. i just reminded -- cyndi lauper got the "national anthem wrong." let's talk about the men's side. that match is going to be -- at

least it's shaping up a match of ages. >> one versus two. nadal and djokovic. nadal beat him last year. this year, nadal, 0-5. hasn't figures this guy out. if djokovic wins this, one of the great, great seasons in men's tennis history. on the other hand, eventually the streak against nadal has to end and figuring things out. this will be interesting and hopefully not over soon. >> rauf rafael nadal is healthy on his game. maybe so. this will be his year. >> we'll see what happens. style. we'll see what happens. this sport is -- this tournament has been all about unpredictability. looking for national anthem forgetting tantrum tournament with one good match that's about the tennis.

>> gosh i hope so. i do so hope, but the other stuff is kind of fun. i admit it. appreciate you coming in. still to come a school in maine is giving away ipads to all kindergartners to help students with their reading and math, but is this a smart education strategy or a giant waste of money? that story, coming up.

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so what should a school do when its students are struggling in reading and science? offer tutoring? maybe assign extra work? how about buy everyone ipads? >> that's the solution. at an elementary school in

auburn, maine, that's what they came up with. e-elizabeth cohen was there when the ipads arrived. >> good morning. >> good morning. a very exciting moment. christine and carol, this is a school district where nearly one out of 10 kids don't graduate from high school. so like you said, they really put their heads together and thought, what could help us out? here's what they came up with. it's a big day in mrs. mccarthy's kindergarten class at fairview school. >> what time do you think it is? >> lunchtime. >> not lunchtime. what do you think it is? >> ipad time. >> today, these kids are getting their own ipads. >> thumbs on top. >> the auburn, maine, school district spent more than $200,000 to outfit every one of its 250 kindergarteners with the tablets. and a sturdy case to protect them. they believe they're the first public school district in the

country to give every kindergartener an ipad. mrs. mccarthy says the ipads give her 19 students more immediate feedback and individual attention than she ever could. >> as much as you would love to as a person be able to get to everybody right away and individualize what they are doing, sometimes you can't. >> 40% of the third graders here in auburn are not reading at great level. the superintendent says the goal is to fix that. >> we put a stake in the ground that our kindergarten classes from here on out, by the time they reach third grade and leave third great, that 90% of those students are meeting benchmarks. >> you have to shake it like that. >> yeah. >> ew. >> there's no question these kids love their ipads. maybe a little too much, some might say. a study done last year shows kids with too much computer time or are likely to have psychological problems. some experts worry too much screentime takes them away from reality and away from facetime

with other kids and teachers. the school district says they are making sure that doesn't happen. >> we're going to make sure they are outside playing, that they are interacting with each other. they are interacting with adults. besides using the tool that we're giving them. >> soon, they'll find out if the ipads help or hurt when they test their reading and math schools in november. now, some parents just love these ipads. they think they're great. but others say, wow, $200,000? maybe we could have spent that money on more teachers. >> i was wondering if steve jobs and the folks at apple might have seen that story and decided they were going to kick it in because they are churning out so many of these things every second. one interesting thing about this, there are some kindergartens in the country that are pointedly staying away from technology because they say that kindergartener is about learning how to share, learning how to follow instructions from their teachers, but the important socializing, face-to-face. they have the whole rest of their academic career to use

technology. so targeted technology. it's done differently in different school districts. that's interesting. >> right. and the that is one of the other theories out there, that some schools have. but at this school, these kids are talking to each other and following their teacher's instruction. one thing as the mother of a kindergartener myself, if i gave my 5-year-old an ipad, i don't know that she would want to do anything else. that would be my concern. she would just want to be on that ipad all the time. she wants to be on my husband's ipad all the time already as it is. >> it's a built-in babysitter. keeps the kid quiet for a long time. >> that is true. that is true. >> the key is to make it a tool and not a distraction, and that's what teachers and schools have to do. >> right. >> all right, elizabeth cohen. thank you so much. interesting story. >> yeah. now to a man who loves his ipad. >> oh. sorry about that. my parents gave me that blackberry when i was a baby. >> speaking of kindergarteners and technology -- [ laughter ]

>> god od to see you guy. next hour, i'll talk to two presidential candidates who will be on the statemege tonight. herman cain and jon huntsman will join me. stay tuned. you're watching "american morning."

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the next year, another $100. where am i going, carl ? the next year... that was weird. but awesome ! ♪ nationwide is on your side tonight is the night. i'm ali velshi. in tampa for the huge cnn tea party debate. the tea party says it will choose the next president. and what happens on this stage could make all the difference. also, world markets tumble. from europe to asia, more concerns about greece are knocking down the markets. and here in the united states, it looks like your portfolio could take a hit. in just a few hours, president obama will make one more pitch for his jobs plan. but will it be enough to get it through congress? and will it really create jobs?

details on this "american morning." oh, good morning to you. happy monday. it is september 12. >> it is. i'm christine romans. ali velshi is joining us from the florida state fair grounds in tampa. i can't even spit it out, ali. you'll have so much fun tonight at the tea party debate. >> a lot of excitement in the air tonight. we're live at the florida state fair grounds. it is the site of tonight's big cnn tea party debate. this could be an early turning point in the race for the republican nomination, and it may be the last chance for who we thought was one of the tea party favorites, michele bachmann, to get off the sidelines. many analysts are already calling this a two-person race between rick perry and mitt romney. now the debate is going to take place tonight live in tampa. the only place you can see it on cnn tonight at 8:00 eastern. now, a new cnn/orc poll released

a couple of hours ago shows that rick perry is way out in front right now. jim accosta is following this closely and joins us now. jim, any way you parse this poll, whether it's taken nationally, amongst republicans and republican leaning voters, or among tea party supporters, rick perry way out in front. >> absolutely. but his chief rival at this point, mitt romney, may have gotten a little bit of a boost this morning. this is news just coming in this morning. the romney campaign has announced that tim pawlenty, who recently dropped out of the r , race, is endorsing mitt romney. but this new cnn/orc poll shows that the race is really boiling down to rick perry and whoever can catch up. >> yeah. >> reporter: texas governor rick perry has ditched his cowboy boots for running shoes staying far ahead of the republican pack. perry is way out in front with 30%, the nearest rival mitt

romney at 18%. with the rest of the field looking to play catchup, the cnn tea party debate in florida could be a social security smackdown in a state where the program is crucial to seniors. >> it is a ponzi scheme to tell our kids that are 25 or 30 years old today, you are paying into a program that's going to be there. >> reporter: after perry doubled down on his call for an overhaul of social security at the last debate, romney pounced. >> the governor says, look, states ought to be able to opt out of social security. our nominee has to be someone who isn't committed to abolishing social security. >> reporter: on cnn's "jk usa," balk michele bachmann piled on. >> i think that america needs to keep their promise to senior is thes. >> you don't start a presidential campaign by setting grandma's hair on fire, but that's what rick perry did when he implied he might undo it if he could go back 70 years. >> reporter: that kind of clash

could make the debate another road sign, indicating where the gop is heading, toward more conservative tea party candidates like perry or more moderate contenders like romney. the former massachusetts governor stepped up his courtship of tea partiers only after his numbers started sagging. >> are you a member of the tea party? >> i don't think you carry cards in the tea party. >> reporter: some republicans say there's good reason for caution. perry's doubts about climate change might appeal to tea partiers. >> just because scientists have stood up and said here ever the facts, galileo was outvoted for a spell. >> reporter: jon huntsman worry that could alienate voters and cost republicans the white house. >> for the republican party to win, we can't run from science. but make no mistake, ali, the big shocker in this poll this morning is michele bachmann. at 4%. >> whether it's amongst tea party supporters or the larger republican field, she is at 4%.

>> that's right. and she just won the iowa straw poll a month ago. and look where her campaign is now. but this debate happening tonight really could play into her hands. tea party activists will be able to ask questions. these are her people. they are also the people of folks like herman cain, who will be on in a few moments, who is also a big tea party favorite. could be trouble brewing for mitt romney and jon huntsman. they are late comers to the tea party bus. >> we'll talk to jon huntsman later on. i didn't think i would hear galileo cited in a republican run. a short time ago, amy kremer who is the president of the tea party express joined us here. she made it clear they are a political force that could make or break a candidate this time around. >> we are going to choose the next republican nominee. we are not going to accept what the republican party hands us. and what people need to understand is we are not here to send a republican to washington. we want to send a conservative to washington.

>> she said that people in the tea party express are laser focused on one thing right now. the economy. more specifically, jobs. joining us right now is one of the candidates who will try to convince the tea party tonight, 2012 presidential candidate, herman cain. thank you for being here. >> thank you, ali. my pleasure. >> you have been a consistent force in this race. your numbers low, but consistent. >> yes. >> there have been polls that have indicated that the people who like you really like you. >> they love me. because my love my message. that's the difference. >> but you need more than 5% to love you. >> and we will get it. the polls are fine. but like you indicated earlier, michele bachmann was the favorite to win. now rick perry is the flavor of the week. my supporters are consistent, and they don't defect. so we are going to continue to move up. and the more people find out about my nine-nine-nine economic growth and jobs plan, the more they are going to be attracted to what i'm talking about. because that is a difference

maker. >> give me the short pitch on that. >> short pitch on that is throw out the existing tax code and replace it with a structure that imposes a 9% tax on corporate profits, 9% tax on personal income, and 9% national sale sales tax. that eliminates payroll tax, the death tax, and the capital gains tax. and it eliminates all of the other taxes that muddle up the thing. >> but that depends on everybody paying it. i think we would all love to pay lower taxes. but a lot of people in this country don't pay taxes. >> that's right. and the people that are at the very lowest will still not going to be hit that hard, because they only have to worry about one of the three components. this way we expand the base and bring in revenue that we don't get now in order to generate it. now the good news is, once you put that structure in, not only is revenue neutral, it then provides certainty to the business community which is what's holding this economy back. >> we are one of the few

countries that doesn't have a value added national sales tax. a lot of people have suggested that as an idea. let me ask you something else. the tea party, there be a lot of people watching this debate who are not tea party followers. to them it's noise and politics. you said some time ago something that was interesting. you said of those who have said that the tea party has racist elements, you said, no one would know it better in this race than you. and i believe that. that you would know if there was racism. >> right. >> do we have the sound of that we can just play? >> i would know racism if i saw it. i do not see it, nor have i experienced it, in the tea party movement. it is just an attempt to discourage people from participating in a movement that many people are still in denial on. >> now, we'd like to put this all behind us and get on to the issue of jobs. but i have been at a couple of tea party rallies where i have seen those placards of president

obama with a bone through his nose and a loincloth. and things that are definitely overtly racist. so i'd believe you more if you didn't say you have never seen it. that it doesn't exist in the movement. >> it doesn't exist in the movement. you may have seen an isolated case of those kinds of things. >> i have seen them in a couple of places. >> but those are isolated, ali. i started speaking at tea party rallies in 2009, april 15, 2009, before it was cool. the tea party people have three objectives. amy talked about it this morning. you may have seen those. as long as you keep showing them, some people will think that represents it. it does not represent them. it and not represent the majority of the people that are part of this. >> let me broaden it out then. how do you, when the issue is going to be the economy and jobs in particular, how do tea partiers generally muddle through that noise, a lot of the social issues that do not attract fiscal conservatives? how do you get things like the

nine-nine-nine? jon huntsman's jobs plan, which he is trying to put out that was endorsed by the "wall street journal"? the 59-point plan that mitt romney put out? how do you get the discussion there and not have it taken back to some issues that seem ugly to some americans? >> with all due respect, ali, you guys are doing that. >> we do it because our cameras find something and something happens. we didn't draw the posters. >> no, no, no. but you keep replaying the poster. i was just at a tea party event up in pennsylvania this last weekend. no posters. no racial overtones. you want to know why? people like the leaders of the tea party movement have said cease and desist, and they did. and you don't see that stuff anymore. that stuff is way old. if you go to another tea party event, bring it to my attention, because i do not see it. they don't do that stuff anymore. >> all right. are you -- one of the things that happened in the last several months, which maybe the tea party will come to regret over time, is the remarkable emphasis that was put on the

debt ceiling debate as opposed to the concentration on jobs. what if we had seen that kind of passion, energy, and deadline, that kind of rhetoric, devoted to solving the jobs problem? >> the emphasis on not raising the debt ceiling, i agree with not raising the debt ceiling. here's why. because if you continue to raise it, it's never going to stop. secondly, we don't have a revenue problem in washington, d.c. we have a spending problem. >> then why do you want to fix the tax code? why do you want to do the nine-nine-nine? that's a solution to the revenue problem. >> i want to boost that revenue. we need to boost the economy. and the biggest thing that's going to do -- >> so you're saying we have a revenue problem because if you want to boost the revenue? >> no, it's not. we have a spending problem. spending has increased exponentially. revenue is the fuel for the business sector.

and there's no fuel in the engine. that's what my nine-nine-nine plan would do. >> are you getting a boost from tonight? >> yes, i am. and let me tell you why. because herman cain is still the only problem solver, nonpolitician in the group. and the american people are saying, we want somebody other than a politician. >> we're going to look forward to watching you tonight. thank you for talking to us. >> it's a pleasure, ali. love it. don't go anywhere. 8:30 eastern, we'll speak to fellow republican candidate jon huntsman right here. you're watching a special split edition of american. an explosion has been reported at a processing center for nuclear waste in southern france. one person was killed. four people were injured. this is according to france's nuclear safety watch dog. local police say there's no risk of radiation contamination at this point. the nuclear plant does not include any reactors. we're told the explosion took place near a furnace.

france relies on nuclear energy for 78% of its energy needs. also looking at the markets, global marks were already done. france's stock market average was already down 4%. down 5% now. so adding to an already jittery situation. and we'll continue to follow that there. the global selloff that began friday continues this morning. we'll check the damage so far in today's market sink. and the struggle to save bank of america, the largest bank of the united states, going into crisis mode after reporting an astounding loss. and forget "jeopardy." ibm is finally putting its watson supercomputer out into the working world. watson's new job still ahead. it's 13 minutes past the hour. ♪

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there you go. washington, d.c., partly cloudy, 68 degrees. later, we were expecting a high of 85 in the nation's capital. >> looks pretty there today. finally an end to the rain. it's your chance to talk back on one of the big stories of the day. will rick perry's stance on social security hurt his presidential campaign? how important is the issue of social security in a presidential campaign? let me rephrase that. how important are elderly voters in, say, florida, to winning a presidential election? really important. you hear about social security in tonight's cnn tea party debate. now that rick perry has called social security a ponzi scheme. >> it is a monstrous lie. it is a ponzi scheme to tell our kids that are 25 or 30 today you are paying into a program that is going to be there.

anybody that's for the status quo with social security today is involved with a monstrous lie to our kids. and it's not right. >> but although economists say social security needs fixing, social security has enough money to pay full retiree benefits for the next 25 years, and 77% of benefits for 60 years after that. even republican guru karl rove says that perry's ponzi remarks are out of line. >> they are toxic in a general election environment, and also toxic in a republican primary. if you say social security is a failure, and ought to be replaced by a state-level program, people are going to say, what do you mean by that? and make a judgment based on your answer to it. >> but other conservatives like cnn contributor eric ericson are applauding perry's straight talk. social security is sick, he says. and besides in 2010, while running in wisconsin, then candidate ron johnson campaigned

aggressively on social security being a ponzi scheme, and he won. so the talk back question today, will rick perry's stance on social security hurt his campaign? facebook.com/americanmorning, and facebook.com/americanmorning. i'll read your comments later this morning. >> and you can imagine that the opinion pages are still buzzing about perry's comments about social security. members of the "usa today" editorial board call perry's views on social security both curious and troubling. writing, social security is most certainly not a ponzi scheme. in the same paper, perry himself has written a piece defending his beliefs, writing, quote, for too long, politicians have been afraid to speak honestly about social security. we must have the guts to talk about its financial condition if we're to fix social security and make it financially viable for generations to come. now, although perry contends that lawmakers need to fix the problems, the president yat hopeful not offering any indication yet as to how he would actually enact reform. the "wall street journal" editorial board calling

attention to this. in his failure to produce any solutions for the program, writing, quote, this is the journal, writing, the problem with his hot rhetoric is that it can turn off many voters before they even get a chance to listen to his reform proposals, assuming he eventually offers some. >> i think his feet will be put to the fire in tonight's debate. >> he's right on the fact that the status quo -- you can't tell a 20-year-old that the status quo will be the same for them. but i think most 20-year-olds know that. >> well, as a 25-year-old, i was told that social security wouldn't be there when i retired. and it most likely will be there when i retire. so it's difficult to know who to believe, because social security has been this punching bag for decades. >> right. and people use it for fearmongering and the like. but they have reformed -- they have studied it and reformed it in the past, made small changes that have meant big changes for the program for how long it can last. so just get it done, guys. that's all we're asking. fix it. >> it's simple like that. >> easy. layoffs could be coming soon

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welcome back to "american morning." it's 24 minutes after the hour. minding your business this morning, right now u.s. stock futures are trading sharply lower. world markets saw a huge selloff overnight as fears about europe's debt problems grow. more buzz this weekend that greece could default on its debt despite all the financial help it's gotten from the other eu countries. next hour, we're expected to learn more about bank of america's big restructuring plan, which according to the "wall street journal" could include up to 40,000 layoffs. the bank is also reported planning to close a number of branches. president obama will announce he is sending his $447 billion jobs plan to congress today. he'll make that announcement in the rose garden surrounded by teachers, veterans, and small business owners. republicans promise to consider

the president's plan. remember watson, the ibm supercomputer that humiliated the world's best "jeopardy" players on national tv? watson has a new job. wellpoint, one of the largest health insurers in the country, plans to use watson to diagnose medical problems and authorize treatments for its 34 million members. the thriller "contagion" starring matt damon and kate winslet dominated the box office this weekend. it raked in $23 million this weekend. "the help" was second place. up next, jon hunts will join us live. his fight to stay in the race may come down to tonight. how this former utah governor and president obama's first ambassador to china plans to stand out. "american morning" is back after this break.

this is cnn breaking news. just about half past the hour. breaking news to tell you about now. an explosion reported at a processing center for nuclear waste in southern france. rueters is reporting one person was killed, four people injured. that's according to france's nuclear safety watch dog. local police say there is no risk of radiation contamination. the marcool nuclear plant does not include any reactors and we're told the explosion took place near a furnace. the only member of a russian hockey team to survive last week's plane crash has now also died. the crash in russia has now killed 44 people, including 37 players, coaches, and staff. the only other person to survive, a flight crew member, was reportedly moved out of intensive care. one of moammar gadhafi's sons has now fled libya and arrived in niger.

niger's justice minister says that saadi gadhafi was accompanied by eight former libyan officials and was accepted on humanitarian grounds. earlier this month, he said that he has not seen his father or brother for two months. they are both wanted by the international criminal court for crimes against humanity. the national september 11 memorial will open to the public for the first time today. it's still of course an active construction site at ground zero. so visitors will need reserved passes well in advance to be allowed in. the 9/11 memorial museum is set to open at ground zero a year from now. a brand-new cnnorc poll shows that texas governor rick perry is way ahead of the gop field now. perry polling at 30% nationwide, easily beating mitt romney at 18%. but the candidates will chip away at perry's comments on social security tonight at the cnn/tea party debate in tampa. and now let's head to ali velshi, who is in tampa ahead of that debate.

good morning, ali. >> good morning to both of you. we are live at the florida state fair grounds, the site of tonight's big cnn/tea party debate. our next guest has said that florida is make or break for his campaign. former utah governor and u.s. ambassador to china jon huntsman is joining me now. good morning, sir. welcome. >> ali, good to see you. it's a pleasure. >> take a look at the polls. why are you there? you have been an executive of a state, a very successful executive of a state from a business perspective. you have gone over and worked in china, which is our, you know, probably the most important country to the united states in the next 10 or 15 years. and you're polling in a place that doesn't seem to make sense for an electorate that thinks the economy is a number one issue. what do you think the issue is? >> the issue is the economy. whether or not we're going to be able to come together as a nation. we watched the 10-year anniversary last night. a lot of americans had tears watching that play out. we came together after a national tragedy.

we're going to have to come together again to fix this economy. these are early days. and we have been in this for about two months. we are just beginning to introduce ourselves to the american people. as we do, they will see we bring together the elements of success. private sector experience. number one in job creation in this country as governor. best managed state in america. but third and perhaps just important, i have worked overseas three times. have i been an ambassador three times. we live in a competitive marketplace. we too must step up and prepare. >> let's go back to your experience in utah, which has helped you develop a plan that got endorsed by the "wall street journal." ultimately, what we need answers on, and maybe the tea party audience doesn't need them as clearly as the rest of the country do because there are specific issues with this audience. but what do we do to create jobs? what is the thing? what is the role government can play? what we've heard a lot of from your opponents is that the government needs to get out of

the way. it's a little more complicated than that. >> well, we've got to create a framework, an environment, that speaks to competitiveness. if you talk to businesses big and small, and i do every day, as we journey around the country, they tell you the same thing. there needs to be predictability. and transparency in the system. they need to know where the marketplace is going to be in terms of regulation and tax policy three to five years from now. >> that's not the same as saying there doesn't need to be regulation and regulation just ends in the way of business. >> it depends what kind of regulation you're talking about. we have to repeal obamacare. not because that's good political speak but you talk to the people who should be standing behind it and defending it, and they are the first ones to say $1 trillion dropped on this economy when we can least afford it. a new bureaucracy created. an unconstitutional mandate. >> and you know that it has at this point had no effect on costs or jobs. >> well, when utah you cyo you business folks, they say we are not going to employ because there's too much in the way of

an unknown environment out there. so you combine obama care with dodd frank for example on the financial services reform side, you have the makings for a very uncertain marketplace. you have to clear the clutter and roll out a tax policy that speaks to 21st century competitiveness. my idea takes all the deductions and the loopholes and wipes them clean. on the corporate side, it takes corporate subsidies and wipes it clean. allowing us to lower the rate and widen the base. >> which other countries have done successfully. but americans i think need to hear that it's hand in hand. you eliminate -- if you want lower taxes on businesses, businesses have to pay taxes. >> you have to raise that revenue. so you can reinvest back into the tax code. last time we had major tax reform was under reagan in 1986. we haven't done a lot since. we forget that major competitive countries of the world have gone through tax reform, cleaned up the marketplace, and they are ready for the 21st century. and we are sitting and thinking

25% of the world's gdp, that's good enough to carry us through the rest of the century. and i'm here to tell you it isn't. >> you had a very strong progressive record on energy. which has gotten a little tainted by your new report. you seem to have gone over to a side a little bit that suggests that regulation on the environment is this boogeyman that some of your competitors say it is. in fact, michele bachmann would like to do away with the epa. does that make sense in this world where we do have to think about the environment? >> well, you've got to maintain clean air and water. but when you can't build a new refinery or power plant, you have to say there's significant overreach. and for us to get our percentage of gdp from manufacturing, up north of 10%, back to where when i was born in 1960 it was 25%, i mean, we can do a whole lot

better than what we're doing. >> but you lived in china. are we really going to compete with china? >> of course. >> are we really going to manufacture more goods? >> we're always going to be a step ahead in terms of industry development and innovation. so the industries of tomorrow, we're going to own. whether they are health sciences or energy or personalized medicine, they are all going to be born here in the u.s. and we take them to a certain level of success once they become commodities. we can always do it a little cheaper and a little faster. we have to keep that innovative spirit alive and well in this country, or we lose. we forget sometimes that some other countries coming up -- i have lived in some of these countries, are learning how to innovate and educate the next generation. innovative skills, entrepreneurship, things they didn't do in the past. not only do we have to innovate with the best of them, but we have to create a marketplace that is conducive to manufacturing. not only innovate but manufacture too. >> let me ask you about energy. you are a believer that energy

can create more jobs in this country. how do we do that? how do we deal with the fact that we consume far more than we produce in this country? our energy mix is a little out of whack. what's your suggestion? >> well, we've got all kinds of options we can choose from domestically here. just take natural gas for example. if you start phasing natural gas into the transportation fleet, the big rig fleet, into power generation, and into manufacturing, where it's maybe 19% or 20% today this is 500,000 jobs over the next five years. so says t. boone pickens, with whom i have had this conversation. and that's a lot better than this heroin-like addiction that we have to foreign oil. part of it comes from canada, which is ok. but the dangerous, unpredictable corners of the world where there's been a massive transfer of wealth. for the most optimistic, can-do people in the world, we can figure this out. we just need some presidential leadership to stand behind the bully pulpit and say the time is right for us to move towards

energy independence, and here's how to make it happen. >> jon huntsman, look forward to seeing you tonight. don't miss it tonight. live from tampa, florida, the site of the 2012 republican national convention. wolf blitzer will moderate it. it is tonight at 8:00 eastern. let's send it back to new york. fascinating interview. >> coming up next, 9/11 air scares. two separate incidents, fighter planes were scrambled and bomb squads called in. we have new details on that suspicious activity. yeah. it's 38 minutes past the hour. i can my own homemade jam, apricot. and really love my bank's ise your ratcd. i'm sorry, did you say you'd love a pay raise asap uh, tuly, i said i love my bank's raise your rate cd. you spen8 days lo at sea ? no, uh... you love watching your neighbors watch tv ? at ally, you'll love o raise your rate cd that offers a one-ti rate increase if our currentates go up.

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41 minutes past the hour. welcome back to "american morning." even though the 9/11 memorial services went off without incident, security as you can see there remains tight here in new york city. and also in washington, d.c. investigators are continuing their search for those terrorists who might be planning

these car bomb attacks. sources telling cnn they are still following up on credible but unconfirmed leads about as many as three potential attackers who could be trying to use vehicle bombs to strike. authorities say there is no evidence an actual terrorist operation is underway. but you have all these road blocks here in new york city, and they are looking. >> and emotions are raw and nerves are frayed. and officials are saying there's no link to terrorism with some incidents yesterday. even though fighter jets had to be scrambled to escort two commercial airliners into airports in new york and detroit yesterday. a los angeles to new york american airlines flight had to be escorted after three passengers made repeated trips to the bathroom. a pair of fighters shadows a denver to detroit frontier airlines flight after two people were spending an extraordinarily long time in a bathroom. all the passengers were eventually released. >> if you're wondering what those passengers were doing in the bathroom? we'll leave that to your

imagination because it's probably pretty darned accurate at this moment. painful memory, proud moments, a more than a few tears marking the 10th anniversary of 9/11. >> president obama and the first lady attending four memorial services yesterday. the final one at the kennedy center in washington. the president focusing on the bravery and resolve of those who died 10 years ago and those who have been forced to carry on without them. >> the past 10 years have shown that america does not give in to fear. the rescue workers who rushed to the scene, the firefighters who charged up the stairs, the passengers who stormed the cockpit. these patriots define the very nature of courage. >> it is hard to imagine 10 years have passed. the pain and the heartache rushing back so vividly for

millions of americans. at sporting events and memorial services at the pentagon and shanksville, pennsylvania, and at ground zero. emotions were raw as americans put aside their differences and united in their grief. >> gerard a. barbara. >> and my father, sean edward bowman jr. >> firefighter gary richard box. >> christopher joseph blackwell. >> and my dad, michael back. >> we will always love you. and as you always said, daddy, we got your back. god bless new york city and god bless america. ♪ amazing grace how sweet the sound ♪ ♪ that saved a wretch like me ♪

>> although words cannot ease the pain of these losses, paying tribute by recalling not just the horror of that day but the heroism as well can hopefully give you some comfort and stiffen the resolve of this nation. >> we are still the freest, most blessed nation in this treasured world. and we will long honor that role with the memory and guidance of with the memory and guidance of 40 good shepherds.

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good morning, new york city. it is fair, 68, a beautiful, crisp, early september day. mostly sunny, and later 82. >> i can't wait to get outside. 82 degrees and sunny. this is football weather, you know. and it's crisp in the morning and warm again in the sun. >> it's awesome. >> it is fashion week in new york city. and you know what that means. fashionistas are everywhere clamoring to get a peek at the latest spring 2012 trend -- i can't even say it -- 2012 trends walking the runway. >> you're looking at two girls that have never been in a chair at a fashion show. but i'm telling you, i know someone who has, and it's arlena cho. there's one american designer

who has dominated the scene for going on two decades now. things are only looking up from here. we sat down with fashion legend marc jacobs for a rare exclusive interview. >> reporter: you see his name everywhere. the creative genius behind a half billion dollar empire. the creative director of louis viton. >> we have to see the shape of the pocket. >> reporter: at 48, marc jacobs has won nearly every award in fashion, including the industry's highest for lifetime achievement just this year. >> it's incredible validation from the industry. >> but a lifetime feels very final, and i certainly don't feel like my lifetime is over. and i hope it isn't over. in fact, i hope it's only halfway started. >> reporter: he may be right. the biggest rumor off the runway is word that marc jacobs is in line for one of the most coveted jobs in design. creative director of famed

french fashion house christian dior. >> yeah. it would be an honor. there is no question that the two great couture houses are chanel and dior. it would be very hard to turn down. >> reporter: dior has been without a designer since the company fired their leader early this year for making anti-semitic comments. jacobs says he doesn't think about the future. his focus is on the present. one day at a time, one hour at a time. >> yeah. one minute, one second at a time. >> reporter: anobsession that started at 15. a stock boy at a successful boutique. overnight, he was selling his own designs and then designing for perry ellis. in the early '90s, he started his own label and created a sensation when he reinterpreted grunge for the runway. marc jacobs had arrived. >> i instinctively react to

things that stimulate me. >> such as? >> well, i mean, it could be anything. things that have affected me in the past couple of months, the weather has affected me. >> reporter: amy winehouse? >> the death of amy winehouse. and moving into my new place. >> yeah, yeah. >> reporter: a perfectionist. >> we should mock up the size. yeah. and put a pocket. >> reporter: famous for working right up till showtime. >> to me, it doesn't really matter. if it's a day before the show or a week before the show, if it's before the show, it's before the show. >> reporter: a former drug addict with 33 tattoos, and a certain fondness for skirts. >> i like wearing skirts. i like wearing kilts. i started a few years ago. i moved from kilts into pencil skirts. i wear now mostly prada pencil skirts. i like to do the things that make me feel good and make me feel happy that don't hurt other people. >> reporter: a man who on and off the runway has done it his way. and yet is never satisfied.

>> reporter: i'm always nervous. i'm a total nervous wreck, all the time. or most of the time. i'm very, you know, i'm always questioning my choices. and i'm always relooking at things. but i don't think there's anything wrong with that. i don't think that's a negative thing. >> it is the mark of a great designer. but jacobs takes it to another level. when hurricane irene blew through, few could make it in to work so he lost several days. so what did he do? he changed the date of his show from monday to thursday, as only marc jacobs can. and we talked about this earlier. 250 some-odd shows during fashion week. it is so tightly scheduled for marc jacobs to change the date of his show is a very, very big deal. everybody in the fashion world talking about it. everybody changing their schedules as a result. >> it shows his status. >> exactly. >> were you wearing marc jablg

jacobs when you interviewed him? >> i was. i thought it would make things easier, and he did notice. he notices everything. >> he is an elusive get in terms of interview. >> i rarely get anniversanervou. but he say wonderful guy. a great guy. and he is extraordinarily creative and successful. carol and i were talking about this. for him to stay at the top for so long in fashion is not easy, and he has done it. >> i always like to tweet people like that and say, hey, marc, what do you think of the banana republic sweater? do you like it? >> i think it's great. >> i'm sure he would love it too. >> he would. >> thanks, alina. >> you bet. coming up, the world of men's fashion. believe it or not, menswear is growing faster than women'swear. so why the suddenly popularity boost? alina will ask that question to

menswear mogul tommy hill figger. that's tomorrow on "american morning." all right. an inside look into fashion and design all week from carl lagerfield to rachel zoe. sitting down with the most influential designers and editors, all culminating on alina's special saturday at 2:30 p.m. don't miss it. our question of the morning, will rick perry's stance on social security hurt his campaign? i have your responses ready to go. it's 55 minutes past the hour. [ oswald ] there's a lot of discussion going on about the development of natural gas,

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we are here in tampa. there you see it, the cnn express. at the florida state fair grounds where the tea party republican debate will take place tonight. eight candidates will be involved in this. and the field is starting to gel. brand-new polling from