foreign minister tomorrow 6:00 p.m. eastern in "the situation room." follow what's going on in "the situation room." i'm on twitter, get my tweets at wolfblitzer cnn. all one word. i'm wolf blitzer in "the situation room." "john king usa" starts right now. >> thanks, wolf. an important and amazing week here in washington. what a great time to strtart a w program. no more votes on health care, but as congress heads home democrats need to sell the plan. they say it's a political plus, but republicans predict a public revolt. on one-on-one with bart sty pack, his view on abortion got congress to the finish line. but he's getting heat from the left and right. the president announces a big deal with russia to cut nuclear weapons. don't miss our play by play. john mccain and sarah palin, the

senator faces a tough race at home, basks in glow and support of his one-time running mate. a busy hour ahead. but as always, first, an observation or two. the health care debate has been full of numbers. democrats, for example, are proud to note the new law is designed to provide coverage to 32 million americans who don't have insurance today. the republicans, on the other hand, often start their critique with this number 940 billion, too much, they say, for a country deep in debt to be spending right now. that debate will be front and center coast-to-coast as congress goes home for two weeks and we promise to be across the country to share debates with you. i want to share with you these numbers. they left me a little numb. total spending on tv ads in the health care debate tops $220 million for comparisons, the mccain campaign in 2008 spent $126 million. one more, as you probably know one of the big political debates is whether the legislation will

create jobs, as the white house says, or kill jobs. that's a republican critique. so far, you might call the health care debate a mini stimulus program. on k. street, washington's lobby corrid corridor, making a killing off the debate. more than 4500 lobbyists hired in 2009 for work related to health reform. do the math. 4500 lobbyists, 535 member of congress. that's more than 8 lobbyists for each member of congress. eight lobbyists for each member of congress. as you digest that, let's turn to our correspondents and share stories tonight that are certain to be headlines tomorrow. congress is heading home for a two-week recess after sending a pack only of so-called fixes to the president but lawmakers failed to ask on another measure atop the agenda.

senior congressional correspondent dana bash takes us inside the latest partisan stand-off. >> some people on extended unemployment may not get collects after april 25th. congress left for two-week recess without extending benefits. how could that happen? it's a fight, once again, over how to pay for those benefits. republicans want to cover to cut spending to cover the cost of the benefit but was democrats insist joblessness is an emergency that should not have to be offset. democrats who run congress, they could have forced everyone to stay in town and vote, even into the weekend, but they chose not to. democratic sources say, what's the point? they won't have votes to keep the benefits going anyway and republicans i talked to say, without paying to for it democrats are right, votes aren't there. >> you might say it was together again today for the 2008 republican national ticket. senator john mccain faces a gop primary challenge back home in

arizona as he seeks another term in washington. he called in sarah palin to shore up his support among conservatives. >> if you want real leadership, and not just rhetoric, not just talk, blah, blah, blah, if you want somebody to fight for what it is that this state and this country needs, i'm asking you to vote for john mccain. let's send the maverick back to the senate. >> remember, in iowa yesterday, president obama said if republicans want to run on repealing health care, they should go for it. senator mccain today returned the volley. >> i am confident that i am here reflecting the view of the majority of the american people by saying, right, mr. president, we're going to go for it, and we're going to repeal this bill. we're going to stop this spending. >> national political correspondent jessica yellin on hand and takes us behind the curtain.

>> reporter: this event has barely ended and already we're told, don't be surprise if you see it turned into a tv ad for john mccain. just another sign of how big a political rock star sarah palin has become. she's already on the radio here for john mccain, and tonight a big political fund-raiser she's attending is raising hundreds of thousands for mccain. the campaign tell me, it much more than they expected thanks to sarah palin. palin mania is rubbing off. i talked to members of the audience who came in undecided and many of them still left undecided when it comes to john mccain. they were chanting "sarah, sarah, sarah" not, "john, john, on." their words, the mack is back. >> super happy with the event. see if they get votes. have a great weekend. more than an interesting week in politics and more than interesting first week for us. senior political analyst gloria borger is here. got to love the theater event.

>> you you nostalgic, seeing those two together again. she's sort of, sarah palin said, he was tea part before tea party was cool, or evenee eee invente health care bill goes to the president's desk. it's clear the white house, announced the nuclear arms agreement with russia. but the president wanted to have a big announcement at the white house they revamped the for closure program, he's on the road to do a health care rally, do an economic speech, moving around the country. they're try doing create the impression twee wewe were in a >> they feel they're going to sell the plan. they're going to say to the american people it's not as bad as you thought it was but, look, there are things in here that you're going to like. and you know, when you pass social security and medicare, people knew, you're over 60, this is going to help you.

when you pass health care reform arc side from the 32 million uninsured, you're not sure how it's going to affect you. this is an education process that the white house is going to continue to do. and move to the economy, of course. >> move to the economy. the big question is, what is the mood for members of congress going bam home? karl rove was here yesterday, thinks it's stimulus deja vu. a bounce for the president, then the public gets mad. >> you can't predict. they did get a bounce out of this and will continue to get a bounce. but as members go home, we're going to see what tea partiers are doing in their home districts, whether they get scared. last august members went home and got scared about health care reform. we're going to have to see what happens over the break. >> gloria, thanks. a quick look behind numbers. stocks closed mixed but it's another up week. don't let's the meager nine-point gain full you. markets aren't behind the high

they hit wednesday. the obama administration announced major revamping of the for closure assistance program. new deal, lenders must temporarily reduce mortgage payments to no more than 31% of a borrower's income. a lender could allow a struggling payer to skip a few payments. program will use $50 billion for the wall street bailouts. stupak's anti-abortion compromise helped pass health care reform. left and right are mad at him. since arthur's been eating purina one, he has blossomed...

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to pay for itself. the revolutionary kenmore elite washer. that's genius. many more liberal democrats don't like it when anti-abortion congressman bart stupak speaks up. heading home where angry tea party activists are waiting. welcome. >> thank you. >> interesting week. >> interesting six months. >> you're heading home. the tea party says it will be waiting. you broker this deal to keep some of your fellow anti-abortion democrats on board in the health care plan. >> right. >> in the week before that i'm getting e-mails and tweets from conservatives saying, bart stupak is our democratic hero. then, you cut this deal and suddenly, you're a traitor in their views. you're getting it from both sides. you can see the tea party is raising money and they say,

defeat bart stupak. other conservative groups are raising money saying target bart stupak. from the left, stop bart stupak. what is it like to be you at this moment where you're getting political pressure from both sides. >> well, both sides are mad at me i guess i did the right thing. when you do legislation, when there's -- there's got on a common ground, and i was able to reach it honoring the principle of the sanctity of life and maintaining it and still pass health care. you know, the pro-life democrats that stood with me courageously until that sunday and we got our executive order to protect life, they're a courageous bunch of members. i was proud to stand with them. both goals accomplished. stood on our principles, protected life and health care. every one of us voted for health care in the fall. wanted to see health care pass. so we got both goals

accomplished. >> you say protected sanctity of life. as you flow, some of your friends in the republican aisle who have worked with you many times on anti-abortion issues say the executive order is a sham, it's not worth the paper it's printed on. listen to congresswoman jean schmitt here. >> simply put, an executive order issued by the president is not worth the paper it is printed on. it is not the law of the land. and it can be rescinded in the blink of an eye by the jot of a president's pen. >> answer that, in the sense if you talked to the president you, have his word on this, but answer in the context to what she said but also the idea, it's an issue of principle. >> sure. >> you often work with republicans because there are more anti-abortion republicans than democrats. there's a partisan split on what has been an issue of principle. >> there shouldn't be, because 2007, president bush, george w. bush, issued an executive order restricting stem cell research,

embryonic stem cell research. everybody hailed it. it was wonderful. >> they trust him. they don't trust barack obama. >> it's a trust factor. i'm willing to trust the president. even during this debate about health care, what did president obama say? we will not use federal funds for abortion. what did the speaker say? keep current law. let's not expand or restrict it, let's keep current law. it's clear in the executive order that hide restrictions on abortion will apply in the health care exchange. 0 so i ask all of these saying it's not worth the paper it's written on to go read the executive order. is it very clear. very clear. remember, presidents are used executive orderers to implement policy, which may not be politically achievable. i agree with jean, with my republican friends. i'd rather have the law like the stupak amendment we passed in the house but we need 60 votes in the senate. the most we could muster was 45. find me the other 15 pro-life

senators and i'll be happy to join you in passing a statutory law. you can do than the reality is what's the next best thing that has the full force effect of law? an executive order and i'm pleased obama signed it. >> many americans didn't you know before this week. they've seen you, in the news a lot a bit. tell us about bart stupak, in the sense you were a police officer before you got involved in politics. when do you first remember where you said abortion is wrong, and if i ever get a chance to stand up for that principle i will? in i was in the state office before, state representative, and i was back in -- it was in the '80s. that's always been my principle, belief. >> starting politics, as a child, thinking about this? >> well, my father was in the seminary. he was six months short of being a priest. so if he figured if he couldn't save souls, he'd create souls, ten in our family.

we've always take than position. where i company from the upper peninsula of michigan, we've all been right-to-life. it's who we are, blue car, hard-working people. >> how hard is it for you notice democratic caucus, your colleagues, especially the women, have come up, favor abortion rights and some have called it a tragedy. they say the health care bill sets back women in the sense of reproductive rights and freedom. >> there's no further restrictions. we keep the current law, which has been in effect for 33 years, hide language that says no public funding for abortion. there's no restrictions. everything stays the same as it is right now. you know, now -- >> do you feel welcome in your party. the moderates have disappeared, the people in the mid. what about the democratic party? >> you know, they say because you were able to bring your vote and a couple others, you passes health care for us.

this legislation, wle you lohen at it liberal women 4 tell me, this is a good bill. postnatal care, if you have a child born with an illness, you're not going to bankrupt a family. this is a good pro-life, pro-family piece of legislation and liberals are saying thanks for helping us out, get this over the line and we didn't violate principles during the way. >> you're going home for recess. the tea party says it's coming to your dis trick. you remember the town halls and the ainge that came out. what do you expect for others going home and sounds like opponents of the health care bill will try to raise their voices. >> i'm sure they'll raise their voices and i'm glad, pleased to have a healthy debate. let's cut out the vitriol, the threats of violence against members that their families. we don't need that. we can have an honest

disagreement, i'm happy to have the disagreement. the tea party demonstrated all summer against the stimulus pack paul merhig age. those wanted to police size the life issue. we passed health care, but many people want to politicize the life issue to defeat health care. if they would have looked back, saw where i and those who stood with me on the issue our goal, again, protect the sanctity of life and protect health care. tea party folks know that. i'd wish they'd take a close look at positive aspects of the health care legislation, when they do, i think they'll see we have great consumer protections. we keep people from filing bankruptcy, have quality, affordable access to health care. when they look at it, everything calms down, by the time we're back here in, 2, 2 1/2 weeks things will calm down. let's start working on the jobs agenda and move this forward. >> we're going to have crews on

the road. congressman bart stupak, we appreciate it. we'll take the pulse of america, as members of congress head home to hear from their constituents.

as congress heads home to find out what the voters think, we take the pulse of america. with us today from atlanta, cnn contributor eric erickson. in new york, amy goodman, host and executive producer of "democracy now." the big question is, is this stimulus deja vu, stimulus passed, democrats thought it would help them, they went home and found angry americans. amy, there's some evidence of a bit of i democratic bounce with the health care passage. the challenge is to sell to a still, skeptical public. what is your sense of the mood? >> well, i think also, at the very last minute, this issue of senator coburn standing up and stopping the extension of unemployment and cobra benefits for, what, 1 million jobless americans in this type of recession, this is not going to

help the republicans. people are being hit very hard all over this country. how many, 1 in 5 homeowners under water with mortgages. this is unacceptable, the condition of america. you talk about health care, it's significant. now they're going to talk about perhaps 30 million more americans getting ensured. kids with preexisting conditions being taken care of. i don't think republicans can lobby against that, though single-payer advocates, people who believe in health care for all, might be dissatisfied, not just republicans who say protect the big insurance companies but those progressive who would like to see this health care coverage for everyone. >> so, eric, to amy's point, republicans want to say the health care bill cost too much. the government doesn't have that money, gives the government too much power. i know you agree with senator coburn, we have to pay nor this if we give $10 billion for unemployment benefits we have to cut it elsewhere in the budget. with the pain of unemployment so

high, do you think it could politically though you agree with them on the policy? >> actually, i disagree with senator coburn to the extent they need to stop extending unemployment, and he doesn't. i don't think it's going to hurt republicans. they're facing a lot of angry voters, voters who hear about the preexisting condition for children and they'll realize, oops, they forgot to put it in there in a timely way, the unemployment benefit, more and more people are thinking, you know, maybe we need to stop doing this. then the stimulus bill, along with the health care bill, we're hearing more and more employers already warning their employees that health care costs are now going to skyrocket and jobs aren't coming back any time soon. >> what about the rawness of the climate? we have seen these threats, we have seen some heated rhetoric. eric, i noted first thing you did in your blog posting this morning was say, look, threats, potential act of violence, all of that must stop, make it about the policy. congressman cantor, i should note, thought a bullet had been

fired from his window. the police say that was random gunfire but there have been other threats against both democrats and republicans in this environment. amy, to you first, do you have hope that whatever your opinion on this issue that people will be civil in the break and maybe feisty and stand up at town halls but politely, do you worry there's a corsoning that could take a turn for the worse? >> i'm very concerned about that. when sarah palin talks about republicans reloading and puts the crosshairs on democratic districts around the country, this is of deep concern. when you have african-american congress members hit with racial epithets, when you have barney frank, openly gay congressman hit with an homophobic epithet, these are serious times. not to mention these serious, perhaps, who knows what happened to congressman wiener with this white powder sent to him. there should be warnings by the republicans, stop this now, not amping it up like we saw sarah palin do.

it make me think of the song, john, at the end of mccain and sarah palin's event in tucson, i was shocked they used white snake "here i go again" because it sounds like here they go again. go to their website you see them supporting groups like huffington post, they refer to the raw story and common dreams. it's very funny he would use this again. >> eric, we have a liberal and conservative who say they condemn violence. how do we throw the circuit breaker? >> it's very hard to throw the circuit breaker when you have democrats making disin-gene uous arguments. take, for example, the john lewis racial epithet that all of the video shows didn't happen or the sarah palin nonsense that she's putting targets on democratic districts. that's been go on since i've been in politics for the last decades and a half. all of a sudden, oh, my god, this is terrible. it's ridiculous. if this wasn't happening right now, and the democrats needing to change the narrative back in their favor by playing victim

and playing up stories, some of which didn't happen, we wouldn't be having this conversation. this -- things were just as bad, just as heated when bush was president with the patriot act and the iraq war, but you didn't see republicans running to the camera crying about it. >> we're not going to settle this debate, obviously. i hope the debate during the resist is more civil and there are no threats. appreciate you spending time with us on a friday night. the president says a new arms deal with russias a downpayment on a goal of a nuclear-free weapons world. we'll map it out next.

in wall-to-wall, a closer look at a major new nuclear arms agreement between the united states and russia. the president says it will cut the number of nuclear weapons deploys by the was russia by one-third, also slashing the number of missiles and launch launchers. this was the original call announced in 191 to get the united states and russia down to 6,000 nuclear warheads. here's where we are today in 2010, there's the 6,000 number. the united states is below that,

2100. russia, just under 2800. so that's the state of play today. here's the goal of the new start agreement. by 2022 to get both countrys down to 1550 warheads. beyond the cuts the president voiced the belief the new treaty will send a strong message to other nuclear nations. >> with this agreement, the united states and russia, the two largest nuclear powers in the world, also send a clear signal that we intend to lead by upholding our own commitments under the nuclear nonproliferation treaty we strengthen globalests to stop the spread of these weapons and ensure that other nations meet their own responsibilities. >> easier said than done, though. gone are the days when you could use two fingers or one hand to list the members of the nuclear club. take a closer look. united states, obviously, has nuclear weapons. swing around here to asia. i'll stop the map. russia has nuclear weapons.

china has nuclear weapons. india and pakistan, nuclear powers as well. iran suspected of having a nuclear program, if not yet to the point of having weapons. israel has nuclear weapons. and the united kingdom and france also declared nuclear powers. as he celebrated the agreement today, favorable, new numbers for the president on another major international challenge. americans are growing significantly more onnistic about the war in afghanistan. check out numbers. 55% of americans say the u.s. in addition afghanistan is going well. 43% say things are going badly. november 32% of americans said things were going well and two-thirds said they were going badly. most opposition to the troop escalation came from liberals in his own party but was they believed progress is being made. back in november, only 27% of liberals said the afghanistan mission was going moderately well or very well. now, 51%. say that. you have a child closing in on college age?

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college students and their parents will be especially interested in today's most important person you don't know. william j.taggert chief operating officer of the government office of federal student aid. tucked away inside the health care fix that passed yesterdays

a challenge to the student loan program. it makes government the sole source of federal student aid, expected to total over $150 billion, with a b, next year. his office promises to make sure all billions are delivered in time for the start of classes. he's a money man through and through, graduate of the harvard business school. he worked for wachovia, headed his own consulting firm, america's future, or at least the money for it, now in his hands. dana, one of the things lost sometimes, missed, to a degree in the health care debate was the student loan change. >> absolutely. we reported on this from capitol hill but it was impossible to break through the headline grabbing health care story. and it was attached to health care. and this is really a huge, huge shift in a program that is very critical to people out there. starting this summer the federal government will take over the student loan industry from private lenders so banks won't be able to offer students federal staffords loans and

interest rates, they will be capped. john, the congressional budget office says that this will save the government more than $60 billion over ten years, much of the money will go to in creased pell grants. some of that savings they used to pay for health care. >> shocking. that's why they put it in there. the people you cover are gone for two weeks. you have to watch the fallout to the health care debate as they go home for congressional reverse. we're asking americans every week, we say, make your case. and health care was the question we asked this week. would it help or not. monica says she's an independent, here's her take. >> i have never had health insurance. i have always worked for small businesses. let's stop bickering and look at this as a good basis because, quite honestly, soebl responsibility is dead in this country. >> monica, obviously one of the voters the democrats want to convince when they go home, yes, you should like this. you have a byner. >> she mentioned small

businesses. if you're a democratic congressman going home for recess, there's an app for that. >> an app. >> binder sent home. i put those on top, the small business guide. if you're a congressman going to talk about how health care affects small businesses, ready made for you, you have your talking points here. you can photo copy them, move them around. this binder, guess whose this is the house speaker's, nancy pelosi. >> in red pelosi's district. >> she's got it up here. >> what is she going to do when she goes them to san francisco? >> very interesting, not only there r. there lot of details how to sell various points of the bill but it's specified for each member in their district. nancy pelosi is from the eighth congressional district of california. this top piece of paper gives very specific details, tailored to her district, about various points. for example, it says, 26,000

uninsured residents in her district will be insured and much, much more. >> what's this? >> bipartisan here. this is a republican pamphlet. everybody's got pamphlets, talking points. this is what the house republicans sent their lawmakers home with. >> i would say a more conservative use of paper by the republicans there. >> and you know what? the message is more simple. >> doesn't cost too much. >> explain something very complicated. >> dana thanks very much. at school, recess is fun. for congress, recess could mean nor feisty town halls. we clash over the state of health care politics and the power of the tea party.

so does the tea party scare most republicans or democrats? who, first, a simple question, who? >> i think we're happy to have tea party voters out there. look, we had tea party voters out there before massachusetts, before virginia, and before new jersey. and the world turned to the right direction. >> i think we're happy to have the tea parties out there, too, because they scare independent voters more than anyone else when you look at images and fear that is putting porforth. they scare the living daylights of of voters. >> they brought a lot of energy back to politics and some is

angry energy but a lot positive energy. i want to show you a map of what they're going to do coming up. 44 cities, this is one, this is the tea party express, but 44 cities, 20 days, starts tomorrow near harry reid's hometown in nevada. they'll go through april 15th that will be tax day. they will be right here in the nation's capital. as they try to do this, they're trying to get more people involved. they're challenging incumbents. they're challenging democrats. sarah palin today was in arizona, and she says john mccain, who has been in congress a long time, was in the house before, he's in the senate she tried to make the case a conservative challenger, but mccain was there at the beginning. >> we might as well call it like we see it, right, not beat around the bush. in respect to the tea party movement, beautiful movement, you know what? everybody here today's supporting john mccain. we're all part of the tea party

movement. >> the tea party happened in my hometown. i'll have to go through the history books. >> nice jacket, by the way. >> you like the jacket? >> republicans wearing leather, we are moving forward. that works. i think this is a real test of -- what unites republicans and tea party voters greater than what divides them. what unites them is fear washington's out of control, they can say anything, do anything, spend anything, no matter what americans think. and we saw that today in arizona. now, if palin can get those tea party voters there to support mccain, what does that mean? that means republicans may go into this election in a lot of districts like you were just looking at up there united. this could be the sarah palin we had in the campaign that energized those folk but was people had doubts about her, maybe they won't have those doubt. sarah palin with the great taste and no calories. >> it's sad to see john mccain driven out of the republican party, being challenged inside the republican party because the republican party's left him and they are moving toward the extreme of the tea party when the independent maverick voice

like mccain is challenged in the republican party we've got to question where the republican party's moving. >> let's spend a minute on the white house strategy. the president's on the road next week, he's going to sign the health care bill in northern virginia, he's going to maine for a health care event, out traveling. they're trying to say, and they say the polls show at least a small bit of evidence they're right, people think finally washington did something. they get an uptick here and they're going to keep him moving and try to show that she's got a litt little wind in his back. >> americans are an optimistic and adjustable people. it's like this thing's law now. we have to learn to live with it. a little bit of that, americans saying -- there you're not going to cut that same repeal. >> you saw that with medicare. >> you'll see republicans campaigning not only on repell but stop then from spending money. so, yes, you're going to see that. >> i have a tingle if nigh stomach when i saw him in iowa it was like, this brings back

member roifz the gories of the bring people together and bring people along. >> bring back more than memories. bring back the energy and the foot soldiers. >> you see the energy, you so it on the liberal side. the guy on the road selling our message. he's the old barack obama who won iowa. this guy can do anything. >> yes, he can but except win massachusetts, new jersey, or virginia. he went into all of those and look what happened. so i'm not -- i'm sure he can help barack obama. he can even help legislation, politically, to be determined. >> great question to see, as we go forward. quick last word? base is energi like our chances. >> you guys stay put. we're going to move over to the big screen, we'll have fun with the play by play. we have great moments. republicans wear leather now. tucson, arizona, john mccain and sarah palin.

back now with the play by play. still with us, democratic strategiest cornell belcher and alex castellanos.

out in tucson, arizona, not just the senator and governor palin but the first dude, todd palin was there, cindy mccain there as wem. listen to cindy mccain and she's warming up the crowd and let's see if this one passes truth test. >> you have come today, i know most of all to see my husband. but i know you've also come -- but you've also come to see sarah as well. let's stop it there. by applause meter standards who did they come to see? >> they clearly came to see john mccain when he was accompanied palin was the big star of the day. she drew the crowd. she is doing it all around the country. >> produce freres the michael

jackson beat it video called. they want that jacket back. >> could she help him get votes? when you're being challenged from the right, i know you're as a democrat you don't like her appeal globally. but in that niche? >> i understand what her appeal is. and in that niche she absolutely helps him. he is being challenged from the right. he needs his bonaifieds to be blessed by sarah palin, which is an odd thing to say. i think it's sad. >> a lot of republicans are think she did a noble thing today, put politics aside, and within republican tea party and just to help john mccain. so she is going to score some points today. >> you have both helped a lot of candidates, especially when they have a big event like this, you got to say this, don't say that, you got to look like this, look relaxed. note that right there. he had a tie on when he was here last night. he finally got the memo on the uniform. i want you to watch this play out and tell fuss this is how a candidate is supposed to do it. >> fought against a government takeover of 1/6 of our company.

he told the government that transparency in the legislative process should be more -- >> stop that. >> he is practicing his spontaneity. it's what you do in politics. you got to have genuine rehearsed spontaneity. it happens all the time. everybody check theirs notes. it's one thing candidates need to learn today is you're always on. >> maybe he would benefit from a teleprompter which they keep attacking barack obama for. but you're always on. >> the good news is the mccain-palin team is back. we're going to keep running until they win. that's our strategy. we're going to keep going at it. >> in the debate in washington this week, the health care bill passes. one of the guys who gets some of the credit is rahm emanuel. he has been working the hill. at one point he wanted to compromise and the speaker kept him going or to the sweeping bill. but now they announced this new s.t.a.r.t. treaty. both the president of the united states and the president of russia have to send it to their legislatures. it will be a tough sledding for the president of the united states in the president. president medvedev has to send

to it the duma. hillary clinton suggested perhaps the russian president would want some help. >> just as we have to go to the congress, president medvedev has to go to the duma. i think president obama has said he would send rahm emanuel to moscow. and we all immediately endorsed that offer. >> i think a lot of democrats if they couldn't send rahm emanuel to baghdad, they'd be happy to send him to -- no, there is a schism in the democratic party now. barack obama united the democratic party, but on the left. he united them for a trillion dollars in spending, $500 billion in taxes and medicare. >> i'm trying to make a joke about rahm, and you come in with all these talks. >> but rahm emanuel is a pragmatic guy. he's the guy who last election was very successful for democrats moving him towards the middle there is a big division there. >> hats off to the obama team

for doing something that no president has ever done. hats off to nancy pelosi who was a real big winner out of this thing. >> let's go back to the team. you mentioned the other night you were for howard dean. the white house, washington, secretary clinton. >> she is just scrubbing the date on that. but there is an opportunity for her. obama has united the democratic party on the left there is a hole in the center that hole could be filled by republicans, but it could also be filled by the last president and his wife who balanced the budget, bill clinton and the new democrats. >> i'm not sure when that one is. when is that race going to happen? >> well, look, you know, i think she says she is not interested in running again. but i tell you what, after barack obama we will welcome hillary clinton because, look, she is a leader. she is a great states woman. she would be a great president. >> i will keep this photo. thanks for sharing some time with us on a friday night. all week long on twitter we have been giving you a behind the scenes look at our show. check out senator mccain here

yesterday, taking a twit pic of us, taking a twit pic of him as he arrived in the studio. join us on twitter, facebook and check out our blog, cnn.com/jkusa. there is a stae party and a coffee party. what is the next party? pete's on the street searching for alternatives.

let's check in with campbell brown in new york for what's up at the top of hour. >> hey there, john. one major city on alert tonight

after flash mobs of hundreds of out-of-control teenagers repeatedly swarmed downtown. they have brawled, broken into stores, assaulted strangers, and authorities fear it could happen again this weekend. we're going to talk to the experts who are trying to stop the violence. also, we'll hear from mark halpern, jessica yellin. they were there for the mccain-palin rally today. and also talking to a celebrity chef who is passionate about the changing the way america eats. jamie oliver wants to start a food revolution. her is here tonight. >> see you in a few minutes, campbell. thanks. pete dominick is our offbeat reporter. he is out on the street. you know there is a tea party and a coffee party. what else, pete? >> i tried to find out, john, but as far as i'm concerned tonight, as long as the party is inside, it's freezing here, john. you guys have sandwiches. you want to be in the sandwich party usa? >> absolutely. >> bald white guy party?

>> i'm in. >> keep it real. >> french fry party, are you in? >> i'm in. >> giant sunglasses party. it's happening. what's our issue? solar power, renewable energy. i think giant sunglasses party is definitely going to take off. hey, you guy, tea party, coffee party, what is next? how about no socks party, yeah? >> that would be a good party. i prefer shawn's birthday party, though ♪ happy birthday, dear shawn >> coffee party, tea party. >> anti-human trafficking party. >> not human trafficking. anti-human trafficking party. >> sorry, guys, sorry guys. tee party. tee party? no, been done. well, my favorite drink is the smoothie. that's the drink i would like to rally around to create a discussion, maybe a protest. let's see if we can get people on board. i want to get a raspberry collider, but i want some enhancers, of course. i want the biparns