so when in doubt, dial it out! on our broadcast tonight, damage control, mitt romney fighting back over that secretly recorded videotape. and what he said about the 47%. bouncing back, good news tonight about a surge in home sales, but who really benefits? would you believe there is a health warning out there about rice, potentially containing dangerous levels of arsenic. and rough ride for american airlines, what ticket-holders need to know. and a shining moment in the capitol today, an emotional tribute to a woman who paid a high price for freedom. nightly news begins now. this is nbc nightly news with brian williams. good evening, these are tough days for the romney

campaign, 50 days to go now until the election, they are dealing with something of a public relations disaster. video of the candidate speaking in an unvarnished way to what he thought was a private fundraiser. they still have a lot of explaining to do mitt romney, with members of his own party, republicans in politics who are desperately worried about the damage here. it is where we begin our coverage tonight with nbc's andrea mitchell in washington, good evening. >> reporter: good evening, the romney campaign fought back furiously today, trying to change the subject from mitt romney's comments caught on tape, to a then state senator, barack obama in atlanta today, mitt romney tore into the president, accusing him of wanting to redistribute the wealth, based on a tape he heard years past.

>> he said yes, he believes in redistribution, i don't, i believe the way to help others have higher income, is not to take from some, give to others, but to create wealth for everybody. >> reporter: romney is talking comments then state senator obama made four years ago about making government more efficient >> i think the trick is to make government systems that pool resources, and hence facilitate some redistribution, because i actually believe in redistribution, at least at a certain level to make sure everybody has a shot. >> reporter: he referred to his comments in 2008. >> my idea is if it is good for folks from the bottom up, it is good for everybody. if you spread the wealth around, it is good for everybody. i respect what you do and respect your question. >> reporter: today, they dismissed the attacks. >> if you want to talk about redistribution, governor romney and congressman ryan would give

it to the richest americans. >> reporter: romney is taking fire even from republicans from his comments to wealthy donors in may, caught on a hidden camera, seeming to hit the americans from the middle class. republicans in tough races like massachusetts senator scott brown said that as somebody who grew up in tough circumstances, being on public assistance is not a spot anyone wants to be in. others say i disagree with the idea that 47% of americans believe they are victims who must depend on the government for their care. in a column today, romney defended his remarks, saying instead of creating a web of being dependent, i want to lift americans out of poverty. democrats have launched ads re-playing the comments from that tape in six battleground states. >> andrea mitchell, starting us off today, let's get the view of

what it was like today inside the romney campaign on the road. nbc's peter alexander traveling with the candidate tonight in miami. peter, did you notice anything different? >> reporter: well, brian, we'll see the candidate here in south florida, for the first time tonight. it will be his first rally with voters since last friday, since this secret video came out. we spoke to an adviser close to the campaign a couple of hours ago who acknowledge that the campaign was thrown off base by the release of this tape. self-inflicted in his words, but he says the campaign is resilient, that in the face of heavy punishing, criticism from conservatives, called the romney campaign incompetent they say it was not the way they

intended it. but they finally have the big ideas debate about the role and size of government, that the party and conservatives have long been wanting to take place here. they're also fundraising, and actually raised $8 million at several fundraisers in the last couple of days. the date to look to is october, saying that with the debate and good job numbers they believe they are in very good shape. >> all right, peter alexander, traveling with governor romney in south florida, thank you. and a big rally for a lot of republicans in this election year has been the botched gun-tracing episode on the u.s. border called "fast and furious." tonight, our justice correspondent, pete williams with us this evening, from the justice department. good evening. >> reporter: brian, the inspector general said he found no evidence that attorney general eric holder approved of the risky tactics that the federal agents were using, or

that he even knew about them until congress started to ask questions atf agents simply watched as guns were smuggled into mexico, hoping it would lead them to drug cartels. but few were ever recovered, and some showed up where the u.s. border agent was killed. today it was called flawed and seriously unsupervised in arizona, referring 14 federal officials for discipline, two of them including the former head of the atf, stepping down today. the report said they should have warned that the operation was seriously off track. >> pete williams has been on the story at the justice department, thank you. the french government closing its embassies in 20 nations tonight, after a magazine in france printed cartoons making fun of the muslim prophet, muhammad. the government officials asked the magazine which specializes in satire, not to portray the cartoons, which shows the naked

prophet mohammed, which nbc is choosing not to show. it is meant to poke fun at the anger over the film, which has led to so many deadly riots in many countries. and as we mentioned on the home sale, jumping in august with a much higher number than was expected. this is a sign that the real estate is at least trying to stage a comeback after struggling after the wake of the housing bubble that burst in 2007. diana olick, good evening from washington. >> reporter: good evening, brian, you know even the realtors today were saying that the housing recovery seems "much more convincing," but they still warn there are head winds, like getting a mortgage today, that make it weaker than it could be. sales of existing homes jumped nearly 8% last month, surprising

some on wall street who thought the housing recovery may be faltering. sales have not been this high in two years since the temporary lift on the tax credit. >> we're both gainfully employed. and our kids are happy. and we just need that perfect home. >> reporter: but the numbers are still about a million short of what is considered a healthy market, largely due to very tight credit. almost a third of those who are buying are paying cash. >> it is a lot harder to qualify for a loan than it was three or four years ago. and that is the key reason why the sales market has not picked up as much as the rest of the housing market. >> reporter: and while there are fewer foreclosures for sale now, there is a hefty pipeline for old loans, and more foreclosures are on the way. those homes will compete directly with new construction which rose to a two-year high in august, but still less than half of what it was during the housing boom. >> we're seeing very good

housing numbers coming up, but have to put it in context. the fed put it in a good way when they say the housing market is improving, but still depressed. >> reporter: permits to build future homes suggest the gains should continue, but multi family homes are increasing. if you take families forcing foreclosure, the home ownership is at a 50-year low. >> the people are seeing prices go up, and more people are starting to jump in. >> reporter: home prices are slowly coming back, up 1.7% in august from a year ago, according to one estimate but the gains are slowing. august was good, but remember that home sales are still nearly two thirds of what they were in 2005, and today's mortgage rates are not helping much. that is because too many americans don't have the credit scores or the down payment to qualify for the great rates.

>> thank you, diana. back to school today for about 400,000 chicago public school students after the teacher's union reached a deal that ended their strike last night. school was cancelled for several days in all while the city and union negotiated this agreement on a pay increase, compromise on school reform and changes to the teacher evaluation system. and customers on american airlines having a rough week so far with major delays on a majority of their flights. nbc's tom costello with us from the national airport in d.c. with what is behind this inconvenience. tom, good evening. >> reporter: hi, brian, some travel experts are warning passengers to avoid the hub cities, maybe even board on alternative airlines as the delays mount. last september, 82% of american's flights were on time. so far, only 61% were on time. on sunday, 48%, monday, 39%, tuesday, 45%.

today, more delays. what is the problem? well, american has imposed new cost-cutting conditions on its 7500 pilots as it re-organizes under bankruptcy protection. and now, the number of mechanical write-ups by pilots have jumped, some of them nit-picking about seats that don't recline. and each write-up can delay a flight. sick calls are up, as well. the union insists there is absolutely no organized effort here. but whatever the reason, passengers are feeling it. >> tom costello on the trouble on american tonight, thanks. as we mentioned at the top of the broadcast the health alert is out tonight about rice and rice products, everything from cereal to crackers to baby food. new studies are out today, one study showing that rice contains arsenic, something some folks knew, but not all of us, it turns out

>> reporter: from babies eating rice cereal, to kids. >> it snaps and pops. >> reporter: and their rice krispies, rice is a staple. but now new reports showing alerts that arsenic has been tested, in 200 samples of the most popular brands. >> these are not trace amounts, these are moderate to high amounts. >> reporter: the fda did its own tests and announced similar results. while the health risks are not known, arsenic is a health risk over time that can cause health problems such as cancer and bladder problems, still, others say the rice is safe. >> we have not seen established concerns that can be pointed to as a result of eating rice. >> reporter: arsenic can be linked to cancer, but there is not something that says it can

happen in food. but do you want to wait for that as a parent. >> what we do know is that rice is a healthy food. >> reporter: just last year, consumer reports found elevated levels of arsenic in apple and grape juice. while it is regulated in drinking water, there are no standards for rice, drinking water or other foods. what is your message to the fda? >> the message to the fda, it is time to start setting the standards in food. >> reporter: but the fda says that more testing is needed. matt lauer talked about it today. >> why not set limits now? >> well, our best advice is a balanced diet. i am a mom, i recommend moderation in what they eat. >> reporter: others say eat rice in moderation, and when you do, rinse it thoroughly. and if you're a parent serving

your baby rice cereal, limit it to once a week. nbc news, new york. and still ahead as we continue along the way tonight. what could be new hope this evening for treating a serious disease that strikes thousands every year. and later, america honors a woman who risked her life for others. she calls today one of the most moving of her life.

health news and encouraging news in one of the big mysteries, ms, multiple sclerosis, doctors don't know what causes it. but today, research shows a new drug may play an important role in managing the disease that often hits women in the prime of their lives, including the wife of presidential candidate mitt romney. our report tonight from our chief science correspondent, robert bazell. >> reporter: ann romney is one of about 400,000 americans

living with multiple sclerosis, this lady as well, and in one study it shows this pill, bp-12, is easy to take and very effective. >> it has just been wonderful, a whole different aspect of dealing with ms. >> reporter: in ms, the immune system that usually fights disease attacks the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, leaving the areas as white tissue that show up on a brain scan, often striking women in their 20s, 30s, 40s, and men in later years. >> ms can affect vision, movement, brain, bladder, everything the brain does can be impaired from ms. >> reporter: this is not a cure. >> like the nine other drugs already on the market, it reduces the number of nerve

cells. but it has fewer side effects. >> it is really a frightening disease. >> reporter: it is expected to cost the same as the others, about $50,000 a year. the most effective drug has to be given once a month and carries the risk of serious side effects, including brain infection. this lady plans to switch, if they win approval on the drug expected in a few months. >> because of the risk of brain infection and the convenience. this takes three hours a month, you sit in a chair. >> reporter: experts welcome it. but they emphasize it is not the cure that everyone wants. robert bazell, nbc news, cleveland. up next, the first look at the new arrival at the washington zoo.

look at this video out of australia, going on for 40 minutes, most of us, of course will go our whole lifetime and not see anything close to this this is a fire tornado, happening when the surface winds twist, combining with the wildfires and form an extreme heat updraft that just makes the column of flame go up into the sky. and space shuttle endeavor, riding piggyback on the boeing 747, that left florida today. after low fly-overs past the nasa centers today, they landed near houston. the plan is they will leave tomorrow for the final journey to california. and big news from mars, this will look just like a rock. the rover came across the rock, ten inches tall, 16 inches wide. the rock doesn't know it yet, but they're busting to use the rover, so we'll know much more about this rock shortly, more

than we ever wanted to know. it has already been named after a former engineer on the project. here are the new pictures on the baby panda creating a national sensation at the zoo in washington, it is not much. but seeing the tiny moving figure cradled in its mom's mouth, made the zoo keepers happy just knowing that it was bonding, and it is a sign of affection and not hunger in the panda community. up next here tonight, a woman who moved some of the most powerful men in america to tears today.

finally tonight, there was a moment of high emotion, great joy today in the nation's capital for a woman who has spent much of her lifetime standing up for human rights, and paying an enormous price for doing it. aung san kyi got her freedom back a few years ago, and received the nobel peace prize. our report from kelly o'donnell. >> reporter: one extraordinary woman, from a land more than 8,000 miles from washington. >> this is one of the most

moving days of my life. >> reporter: aung san kyi has finally made this improbable journey, a visit to the oval office, a celebration in her honor, the highest award given by congress, the gold medal. a long-waited and emotional moment. >> i want to thank you, my friend, lady -- for teaching me at my age a thing or two about courage. >> reporter: the lady, in her native burma, a country also known as myanmar. she was respected as a peaceful fighter for human rights and democracy, against a brutal rule former first lady, laura bush. >> one of the most oppressive governments on earth, tried to silence her. >> reporter: she was kept under house arrest for more than 15 of the last 20 years. this is a habit. >> why? she answered if i was afraid of being killed i would never speak

out against the government. >> reporter: awarded the nobel peace prize in 1991, finally released in 2010, and elected to parliament this year. >> in spite of the problems, democracy is still a beacon of hope for all of us. >> reporter: for many years, american friends made her cause their own. >> it is well for us to remember people fight and die for the right to exercise politics. >> reporter: a 67-year-old grandmother, a global hero for peace and freedom. kelly o'donnell, nbc news, the capital. >> that is our broadcast for our wednesday night, thank you for joining us. i'm brian williams, and of course, we hope to see you right back here tomorrow evening. good night.

>> a the police force gets a boost to keep the city safe. >> the bay area is experiencing a housing surge. coming up, a closer look at why we are seeing fewer foreclosures and sold signs. >> the largest tech gathering. the social revolution taking place in san francisco right now. good evening. thank you for joining us.